HAMPSHIRE Ladies U15s, following last year’s triumph in the National Finals, began the new county championship season at Alton’s Jubilee Fields – making it very much a home fixture for the Alton CC trio of Gemma Porter, Abi Green and Amelia Marshall.

Surrey bowled well and Hampshire were facing humiliation, with four of their top five batters failing to register more than one run. It was left to Amelia Marshall to get things going and she hit five boundaries before being adjudged lbw for 26. Freya Cutler, a newcomer to the squad from Dorset, then made a superb 62 and a vital partnership of 60 with Abi Green (23) took Hampshire past the 150 mark.

The hosts finally posted a formidable 200, but Surrey stormed away and reached 50 without loss. Captain Gemma Porter brought herself on and broke the stand in her first over. She bowled beautifully, taking a match-winning 5-9. Finty Trussler of St Cross continued the spin attack from the railway end and took a further three wickets to see the Hampshire girls home to a convincing win.