Lauren Bell’s first competitive bowl of the season resulted in her first domestic List A five-wicket haul as Hampshire cruised past Durham in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup women’s competition.
Her five for 22, a personal best, was full of pace and control as she routed Durham out for 118.
Fellow England international Maia Bouchier made sure of a bonus point victory with a hasty 47 as Hampshire secured their victory with oodles of time to spare.
Bell’s first four-over spell hinted at easing back in things as she went for 18 and looked slightly down on pace.
But when she returned, the speed increased, the ball zipped through and the wickets flowed.
Bell’s second spell of 4.1 overs returned a magnificent five for four to give notice to England’s World Cup rivals.
Before the halfway drinks, Durham had been in the game at 98 for four, having been stuck in.
Tahlia Wilson was free-flowing with 31, especially on the drive, but despite other starts in the top order, no one could provide strong foundations.
Naomi Dattani, standing in as captain again with Georgia Adams injured with a quad injury, brought herself on in the 10th over and struck with the final ball of the powerplay.
The breakthrough came when Emma Marlow chipped to mid on to end a 47-run first wicket stand, before Dattani bowled a chopping on Hollie Armitage.
Another bowling change added a third wicket as Amanda-Jade Wellington had her fellow Australian Wilson caught at mid on, with Mady Villiers run out before the mini-break.
Wellington bowled Bess Heath in the over after drinks, and with Bell’s reintroduction, Durham wilted in the south coast sun.
Bell began her onslaught by kissing the top of Phoebe Turner’s stumps, then pinned Katherine Fraser lbw.
She found Sophia Turner’s outside edge to nick behind, dismissed Lairen Filer leg before and then rounded it out when Katie Levick lobbed a catch to midwicket.
Bell’s only previous professional five-for was for England against New Zealand in 2024.
Emily Windsor, on her first playing return to Utilita Bowl having been a Southern Vipers mainstay, had tried to shepherd the tail with a gutsy 21 off 56 balls but was left unbeaten. Durham all out for 118.
Hampshire’s chase was fast and methodical, mainly through Bouchier’s crunchy shot-making in a blistering 47.
She had put on 55 with Ella McCaughan and 31 with Abi Norgrove to give her side complete control.
And even when Katherine Fraser dismissed Freya Kemp and Rhianna Southby in the same over, Hampshire easily knocked off the remaining six runs.