Lancashire Women complete historic double
Lancashire Women completed an historic double after winning the inaugural Metro Bank One-Day Cup final over Hampshire at the Utilita Bowl after an unbeaten Gaby Lewis century on Sunday afternoon.
Ireland international Lewis led a brilliant chase of 289 with 141 off 143, helped by an exceptional 72 from Seren Smale – with whom she put on 144.
Lancashire started the season by winning the Vitality T20 Women’s County Cup, and added a second piece of silverware of 2025 when Ailsa Lister sprinted through a single with nine balls to spare.
For Hampshire, whose total was flourished by Maia Bouchier and Georgia Adams’ fifties, it was a double One-Day Cup heartbreak – after they lost to Worcestershire Rapids in the men’s competition final on Saturday.
Chasing 289, Alice Clarke was run out by a Freya Kemp direct hit in the fifth over, but it was a blip before Lewis and Smale seized the initiative and put their side on the winning march.
Despite never pulling away from the required rate, the pair oozed control as they both serenely scored half-centuries as they added 144 together to break the back of the chase.
Both survived strong run out shouts in their 60s before Smale was brilliantly caught at short midwicket by Kemp, and then Fi Morris was undone by a Naomi Dattani direct hit from the boundary.
Threlkeld copied Smale’s low-thrills approach to guide Lewis to three figures – brought up after 121 balls and celebrated with a modest fist pump the moment the ball left her bat for a single.
Lewis never looked in trouble, blocking where appropriate but also finding the ropes in all areas of Utilita Bowl – striking 16 fours in total.
Lancashire skipper Threlkeld got her side even closer to the winning line before flailing to midwicket – handing former England bowler Freya Davies the final wicket of her career before retiring.
But Lewis and Lister ticked the final 46 runs off with relative ease to spark the celebrations.
Earlier, having been stuck in, Maia Bouchier and Rhianna Southby got Hampshire off to a flier as they found the boundary at will in a 70-run opening partnership.
Southby was caught at mid on, but Georgia Adams continued to keep the momentum with Bouchier – the pair putting on 48.
Bouchier came into the season with low confidence after a nightmare Women’s Ashes campaign, but has been crucial for Hampshire at the top of the order.
She passed 1,000 runs across the Vitality Blast and One-Day Cup on her way to a run-a-ball fifty – her eighth of the season – in an innings of high-quality.
Bouchier chipped to mid on, but again it didn’t impact Hampshire’s impetus, as Freya Kemp bashed a quick-fire 41, with Adams supporting in a 75-run alliance.
Even when Kemp squirted to cover, Abi Norgrove found runs flowing with Adams – who followed her semi-final century with a classy 77.
With 300 on the cards, Lancashire pulled Hampshire back with regular wickets at the death. Grace Potts had already dismissed Southby, and added Norgrove and Nancy Harman to take three for 47.
POST MATCH REACTION:
Lancashire batter Gaby Lewis:
“What a game and what a final. Hampshire put up a good fight and we stuck at it. That has been a big theme for us in the second half of this competition, sticking in the fight and not crumbling.
“We all did that today. We knew it was a good pitch and even at the halfway point, we backed ourselves to chase it down.
“A big word that comes up amongst us is belief and we have shown that in this phase of games.
“I was just trying to play every ball as it comes. Seren got me through a tricky period and then everyone else that came in got me through a rut.
“A big one for [Smale and I] was to stick at it, and we run well together and have fun. Every ball we play on its merit and back ourselves to take it on.
“Everyone that came in was an immense support and helped get us over the line.”
Lancashire captain Ellie Threlkeld:
“I am so proud of all the girls and all their efforts. Different people have stood up at different times to get us over the line. It has been a great team effort and I’m so proud of everyone.
“We were pleased at the halfway point with our bowling performance but knew we had to bat well, and that is what we did.
“Credit to Gaby, it is one of the best innings I’ve seen and then the other girls stayed calm under pressure.
“She has been brilliant for us and offered so much on and off the field. To put in a performances like that in a final shows how mature she is.
“I am also so pleased for Seren. She has worked hard all year and again for a young player to play like that in a final is incredible stuff.
“We have had a really successful year and I’m sure we will celebrate tonight and take some time to reflect on what we have done.”
