Somerset (women) vs Essex (women) (match 40) at The Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton on Tuesday 8 July 2025
Somerset women expressed great relief for their first win of the season at headquarters. Guest Australian international Amanda-Jade Wellington played a match-winning performance for Somerset women both with bat [29 runs (from 23 balls)] and ball. As pick of the Somerset bowlers, Wellington’s leg-spin took 1/25. Returning from her ‘England A’ duties, Jodi Grewcock top-scored for Essex women [45 runs (from 34 balls)] partnered by Cordelia Griffith for a ‘fifty’ third-wicket partnership.’ Commentators lauded Esmae MacGregor who took a ‘3-fer [taking 3 wickets/ conceding 19 runs) and felt that Essex Women were denied victory in the final over of the match. Key to Somerset women’s success was a crucial fourth-wicket stand (45 runs from 29 balls) between Amanda-Jade Wellington partnered by England veteran Fran Wilson, who made top-score 41 (from 32 balls.) Needing to score 16 runs from the final 17 balls, Amanda-Jade Wellington (together with bowler-turned-batter Alex Griffiths) saw Somerset women home to celebrate their first win at their tenth attempt. Commentary by SKY Sports team included Charles Dagnall, Nick Knight and Robert Croft.
Essex women wearing full-fronted red, full-backed mauve over sleeveless navy blue; *skipper Eva Gray; *[Jess Hazell keeping wicket for Somerset]; *international player Madeline ‘Maddie’ Penna (Australia); *Mis-timing a ‘square-cut,’ Lauren Winfield-Hill went ’leg-before’ to Olivia Barnes; *Next over, Grace Scrivens, was caught at ‘deep mid-off’ by Olivia Barnes, from Erin Vukusic; *After 6 overs ‘power-play’ 40/2; *After 10 overs,66/2; *Cordelia Griffith was caught at ‘deep mid-wicket’ by Alex Griffiths, from Mollie Robbins; *Jodi Grewcock went ‘aerial,’ was caught at ‘cow-corner’ by Erin Vukusic, from Amanda-Jade Wellington; *Mis-timing a ‘huge heave’ from the final innings ball, Jo Gardner was bowled ’top-of-middle-and-off’ by Alex Griffiths; Essex women batting: Jodi Grewcock45(34), Cordelia Griffith31(29), Jo Gardner22(12), Maddie Penna21*not out(22), Lauren Winfield-Hill19(14); Somerset bowling: Alex Griffiths 1/18, Amanda-Jade Wellington 1/25, Mollie Robbins 1/26, Erin Vukusic. 1/30, Olivia Barnes 1/34;
Somerset women wearing pink over black with plum helmets *skipper Sophie Luff [Lauren Winfield-Hill keeping wicket for Essex]; *debutante Ruby Davis, *international players Amanda-Jade Wellington (Australia ‘A’) & Erin Vukusic (Croatia); *without Charlie Dean & Heather Knight (England call-ups); *Bex Odgers was caught aerial at short-third’ by Esmae MacGregor, from Eva Gray; *Finding Esmae MacGregor unplayable, Niamh Holland, was caught behind by keeper Lauren Winfield-Hill; *After 6 overs ‘power-play’ 44/2 (vs 40/2); *After 10 overs 77/2 (vs 66/2); *Mis-timing a ‘reverse-paddle’ Ruby Davis went ’leg-before’ to Esmae MacGregor; *Fran Wilson was bowled ‘top-of-middle,’ with bails sent flying by Esmae MacGregor; *Next over Jess Hazell, was caught at ‘deep mid-wicket’ by Sophia Smale, from Grace Scrivens coming round-the-wicket; *Amanda-Jade Wellington, was caught ‘in-the-deep’ by Eva Gray, from Grace Scrivens coming round-the-wicket; Somerset women batting: Fran Wilson41(32), Amanda-Jade Wellington29(23), Niamh Holland20(16), Bex Odgers20(17), Ruby Davis19(16); Essex women bowling: Esmae MacGregor 3/19, Grace Scrivens 2/15, Eva Gray 1/27;
Match result: Somerset (women) 156/6 (@8 runs-per-over from 19.3/20 overs/target 156 from 20/20 overs) beat Essex (women) 155/5 (@7.7 r-p-o from 20/20 overs) by four wickets with three balls remaining
*Scorecard with video highlights, courtesy of ECB via nv play at url: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=m_summary#m8600e526-a8ae-436a-a1e7-545c67a3c3c4
*BBC Sport @url:https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/scorecard/e-225329 & SKY Sports@url: https://www.skysports.com/cricket/somerset-women-v-essex-women/scorecard/cc89beb2-b9d2-5935-b01e-a960f503b79a
*Edited highlights IT CAME DOWN TO THE FINAL OVER! | Somerset Women v Essex Women courtesy of Essex Cricket/ECB via YouTube [09m44s] @url: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIB7RBvS4ho & https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVS8FtVskBA
*Behind the scenes .. first win against Essex courtesy of Amanda-Jade Wellington @url: https://www.youtube.com/Secretlifeofwello
*Upcoming League one fixtures @url http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2025/06/22/vitality-blast-league-one-fixtures-and-results-to-june-2025/
*Upcoming League two fixtures @url http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2025/07/02/vitality-cup-league-two-fixtures-for-season-2025-2/
