Sussex Women start season with two wins against rivals Hampshire

Sussex Women made it two wins from two against Hampshire over the weekend as they continued their fine start to this summer's shortened season.

Alexia Walker's side began the campaign on August 1 and beat their south coast rivals by one run in a thrilling 50-over match at the Aldridge Cricket Academy at BACA. 

Cassidy McCarthy was the star that day, taking two crucial wickets at the death, as Hampshire threatened to chase Sussex's 156. 

The visitors were 152-8 with 25 balls remaining before McCarthy bowled Charlotte Taylor and then Providence Cowdrill in quick succession to seal a narrow victory. 

Earlier, Georgia Adams was bowled for 14, but the Sussex skipper's opening partner, Ella McCaughan battled on to score 36 and put on fifty for the third wicket with Izzy Collis (23). 

Some brilliant Hampshire bowling saw Sussex struggle from 114-3 to 156 all out inside 40 overs, but the home attack also impressed and no visiting batter managed to score more than 23. 

Maia Bouchier (21), Charlie Dean (22), Emily Windsor (23) and Alice Monaghan (22) all made starts but were stopped in their tracks, with Beth Harvey taking crucial wickets for Sussex in the middle overs to keep the Sharks on top.

Taylor (19) steadied the ship and looked likely to take her side over the line, but McCarthy held her nerve expertly to get the summer off to a perfect start for Sussex. 

Sussex also opted to bat in their second match of the summer, which was another 50-over clash, on Saturday (August 8) - and that decision propelled the Sharks towards a second successive victory. 

Paige Scholfield shone for the home side with 55 off 73 balls, with six fours, while Nancy Harman finished unbeaten on 42* with five fours and two sixes. 

Adams (17), Chiara Green (25) and Tara Norris (22) also made good starts and scored some vital runs for their side as Sussex eventually set Hampshire 238 to win. 

Opening batter, Ella Chandler impressed for the visitors to score 43 before being superbly caught and bowled by Adams, but Ariana Dowse and Lucia Kendall were quickly dismissed by Green for five and 14 respectively. 

Lower down the Hampshire order, Emily Windsor also batted well and finished not out on 57* off 62 balls with five fours, but regular wickets fell around her and the chase became harder and harder. 

After her half-century, Scholfield took centre stage with the ball and it was her three wickets which wrapped up a thumping victory. Sophie Mitchelmore was her first victim, before Cowdrill was bowled and Avoth was caught by Norris. 

Scholfield finished with figures of 3-33 and Sussex were victorious by 41 runs. You can read a full scorecard here.