CHARLI Knott continued her fine form with a third half-century in four Metro Bank One-Day Cup innings, scoring a classy 82 as Hampshire defeated Warwickshire at Arundel.

Georgia Adams added 68 to help chase down Warwickshire’s 243, keeping Hampshire top of the table heading into the T20 Blast break.

Warwickshire, batting first just a day after nine players featured in a T20 victory in Devon, struggled early on a slow pitch.

They slumped to 38 for four and then 93 for six. Bex Tyson, stepping in as lead spinner with Linsey Smith on England duty, struck with her first ball to remove Meg Austin.

Freya Davies removed Sterre Kalis and Davina Perrin in consecutive overs, while Mary Taylor bowled Katie George in her first over.

Wicketkeeper Rhianna Southby caught Bethan Ellis and Nat Wraith off Adams and Knott, continuing the collapse.

However, Abbey Freeborn rescued the innings with a patient 94, her second fifty of the season, manipulating the field and finding regular boundaries.

She added 97 with Charis Pavely (55), who reached her half-century in 70 balls. Georgia Davis then supported Freeborn with an unbroken 53-run stand, scoring 40 in the last three overs.

Though Freeborn fell short of a century, their efforts lifted Warwickshire to a competitive 243 for seven. On her One-Day Cup debut, Hannah Rainey opened with a maiden.

Hampshire’s reply began brightly with Ella McCaughan and Maia Bouchier sharing seven boundaries, but both fell to Davis - Bouchier flicking to square-leg and McCaughan lbw.

Knott and Adams steadied the chase with confident strokes and sharp timing. Knott hit eight boundaries in her 46-ball half-century and looked set until she top-edged a sweep off Davis, giving the spinner her third wicket.

Southby chopped a pull onto her stumps, and Adams was trapped lbw by Hannah Baker. When Abi Norgrove sliced to point, Hampshire wobbled at 205 for six - still 38 runs short.

The game echoed the reverse fixture at Edgbaston, where the teams tied. With eight needed off 16 balls and Nancy Harman bowled, a repeat seemed likely. But Taylor held her nerve, securing a three-wicket win with four balls to spare.