Ireland’s Lewis leads Lancs to One-Day Cup win

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Adam Lanigan

BBC Sport England

7 minutes ago

Lancashire beat the rain and Warwickshire to win by five wickets to maintain their hopes of booking a home semi-final in the women’s One-Day Cup.

After the visitors had scored 283-7 from their 50 overs at Sale, Lancashire were set a revised 172 from 22 overs via DLS Method.

They reached that target with five balls to spare, led by an excellent 75 from Ireland captain Gaby Lewis.

But Surrey’s wait to reach the semi-finals goes on as their match with Essex at Beckenham failed to produce a result.

Fine centuries from Emma Jones (141) and Alice Davidson-Richards (107) helped them reach 313-5 off 45 overs, but the rain arrived before the visitors could bat.

That was more cricket than was possible at Utilita Bowl where group leaders Hampshire saw their match with Somerset abandoned without a ball being bowled.

Hampshire, The Blaze and Lancashire have already made the semi-finals, with Surrey, Durham and Somerset looking to claim the final place in Saturday’s last round of group matches.

Victory for The Blaze over Durham on Tuesday had already guaranteed Lancashire’s spot in the last four.

They won the toss and put eliminated Warwickshire in but watched as the visitors put together a well-compiled score.

Amu Surenkumar (49) and Sterre Kalis (43) both fell short of their half-centuries, but Abigail Freeborn’s 60 – her second fifty in her last four innings – propelled the total forward with a useful late contribution from captain Georgia Davis, who finished unbeaten with 31 from 21 balls.

Lancashire had reached 20-1 off 5.3 overs when rain stopped play for a second time, but it relented to leave a testing DLS target.

But Lewis combined for a partnership of 106 with Seren Smale (47), which got the innings motoring.

The Ireland captain went for a fine 75 off 53 balls with 10 fours, and although further wickets fell, the batters continued to keep up with the required rate with captain Ellie Threlkeld hitting the winning runs.

Lancashire remain third and must win away to Hampshire on Saturday to have a chance of grabbing a home semi-final next Wednesday.

Emma Jones leaves the field with a smile on her face after being out for 141 v Essex at Beckenham

Bottom side Essex asked hosts Surrey to bat in a match initially reduced to 45 overs per side, but a partnership of 194 between Jones and Davidson-Richards did the damage.

Jones went for 141 off 117 balls but Davidson-Richards remained until she was run out off the final ball of the innings for 107 off only 88.

Victory would have secured Surrey’s place in the semis but instead they travel to fifth-placed Durham on Saturday having to avoid defeat to qualify.

Hampshire had assured their place in the last four with victory at Durham on Sunday, but a win here would have guaranteed a home semi-final.

However, they never made it onto the field with the match abandoned shortly after an inspection at 14:00 BST.

They and Somerset, in sixth, collected two points each, a result which means the west country side can still reach the semi-finals, albeit needing Durham to beat Surrey and them to record a big win at home to Warwickshire.