Hollie Armitage, Katie Levick cap dominant Durham win

Durham Opens Vitality Blast Campaign with Dominant Win

Durham opened their Vitality Blast campaign with a victory as Hollie Armitage’s half-century led them to a 32-run win over Hampshire Hawks.

Durham won the toss and batted first in good conditions, putting a score of 178 for 5 on the board. Armitage’s 64 handed the hosts a good platform, but the Hawks pulled that back with a late flurry of wickets.

Armitage Leads the Charge

Armitage’s 64 was the highlight of Durham’s innings, as she brought up her half-century off 39 balls. Bess Heath also hit the first six of the game down the ground, but she tried to replicate that on the legside boundary and was caught in the deep off a Tulloch delivery.

Armitage then fell as she was caught on the ramp to hand Tulloch a second in the over. Tyson bowled Mia Rogers as the Hawks continued to check Durham’s progress and the visitors were set 179 to win the game.

Hampshire’s Chase Falters

Hampshire’s chase got off to a slow start as they were restricted to rations by the Durham bowlers, who kept on chipping away with wickets. The visitors failed to recover as they were restricted to 146 for eight from their 20 overs.

Ella McCaughan and Adams started Hampshire’s chase and McCaughan was dropped at square leg as a Katie Levick ball was hit aerially towards Heath who couldn’t hold on.

However, Durham made the breakthrough as Villiers claimed the scalp of Adams who was caught by a backpedalling Armitage on the legside.

Durham struck again as Katherine Fraser removed McCaughan who was caught in the covers.

Naomi Dattani looked to add some impetus into the visitors’ chase by smashing back-to-back deliveries to the boundary. However, Levick got Sweet LBW to make the chase even more challenging for the Hawks.

Hampshire’s hopes of victory faded as Dattani miscued a Sophia Turner delivery to backward point. Heather Graham then struck for the first time in a Durham shirt as she bowled Nancy Harman.

Abi Norgrove then holed out to long-off, handing Levick a second of the day. While Graham got her second, with Amanda-Jade Wellington caught in the deep.

Durham then sealed the victory, with Villiers picking up a wicket in the final over.