Lauren Bell’s first competitive bowl of the season resulted in her first domestic List A five-wicket haul as Hampshire hammered Durham.
Fast-bowler Bell has been protected ahead of England’s busy international summer, which sees New Zealand and India visit, either side of a home T20 World Cup.
Her 5-22, 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 by six wickets with more than 25 overs to spare.
This was Bell’s first 50-over outing since England’s World Cup semi-final defeat by South Africa, and her first competitive spell since winning the WPL final with Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Her first four-over spell hinted at easing back into 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. Her second spell of 4.1 overs returned a magnificent 5-4 to give notice to England’s World Cup rivals.
Before the halfway drinks, Durham had been in the game at 98-4, having been stuck in.
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 Lauren Filer lbw and then rounded it out when Katie Levick lobbed a catch to mid-wicket.
Bell’s only previous professional five-for was for England against New Zealand in 2024.