Somerset (women) vs The Blaze – league one, match 46 – at Taunton Vale Sports Club, Taunton (Somerset) on Sunday on 7 September 2025 at 13h15 late start
The Blaze made certain of semi-finals qualification, having ‘out-played’ Somerset women ‘in all departments’ by a ‘convincing margin’ for a bonus point. Adverse weather reduced the match to 33 overs per side, The Blaze with seven overs ‘power-play.’ Kathryn Bryce [63*not out(60)] and Sarah Bryce 68(from 54) scored ‘fifties’ with Orla Prendergast 46(31) making a useful contribution. Weather continued to intervene, with seven more overs docked that reduced Somerset women’s power-play to a troublesome five overs. Commentators lauded Cassidy McCarthy – pictured as ‘pick of The Blaze’s bowlers.’ Charlie Dean faced ‘serious trouble’ for Somerset on 9/4, when surviving Cassidy McCarthy’s ‘hat-trick’ ball. Somerset women showed signs of a ‘remarkable come-back’ when top-scorer Amanda-Jade Wellington 53(28) scored five consecutive ‘fours’ during Somerset women’s twelfth over. Inevitably Somerset ran out of wickets. Commentators: Ed ‘cricket’ Seabourne (BBC Radios Bristol & Glos) with Nicole Harvey (former player, Somerset women) Weather: intermittent rain.
Blaze wearing orange with vertical ‘paper tiger’ stripes over black, plus leg-joggers with half-white stripes and gold numbers; *skipper Kirstie Gordon *[Bex Odgers keeping wicket for Somerset]; *International player Orla Prendergast (Republic of Ireland) *with Scotland Internationals Kathryn & Sarah Bryce; *After 5 overs power-play 38/0; *Georgie Boyce was caught at ‘cover’ by Amanda-Jade Wellington from Charlie Dean; *After 10 overs, 79/1; *Sarah Bryce was bowled with her ‘off-stump’ flattened by Chloe Skelton; *Orla Prendergast was caught aerial at ‘backward square,’ by Ellie Anderson from Amanda-Jade Wellington; *Georgia Elwiss was bowled with her ‘middle-stump’ flattened by by Charlie Dean; *Mis-timing a ‘swipe’ Ella Claridge went plumb ’leg-before’ to Charlie Dean; *Michaela Kirk was caught aerial at ‘fine’ by Ellie Anderson, from Alex Griffiths; Blaze women batting: Sarah Bryce 68(54), Kathryn Bryce 63*not out(60), Orla Prendergast 46(31), Georgie Boyce 31(31), Michaela Kirk 17(10); Somerset women bowling: Charlie Dean 3/50, Chloe Skelton 1/29, Amanda-Jade Wellington 1/40, Alex Griffiths 1/46;
Somerset women wearing black with white logos and plum helmets *skipper Sophie Luff [*Sarah Bryce keeping wicket for The Blaze] *international player Amanda-Jade Wellington, Australia ‘A’; *Bex Odgers was caught at ‘backward-square’ by Kathryn Bryce, from Cassidy McCarthy; *Niamh Holland was caught low down by keeper Sarah Bryce, from left-armed seamer Grace Ballinger; *Sophie Luff was bowled, with her ‘off-stump’ flattened by Cassidy McCarthy; *Dani Gibson, was bowled with her ‘middle-stump’ flattened by Cassidy McCarthy; *Charlie Dean was caught at ‘backward-square’ by Michaela Kirk from Kirstie Gordon; *After 5 overs power-play, 18/4; *Mis-timing a ‘backward-scoop’ Fran Wilson was caught at ‘deep fine’ by Grace Ballinger, from Georgia Elwiss; *Amanda-Jade Wellington, 13.6 ov), ‘run-out’ from by (Kathryn Bryce/Sarah Bryce receiving at the striker’s end) *Chloe Skelton was bowled with her ‘middle-stump’ flattened by Lucy Higham; *Alex Griffiths was bowled with her ‘middle-stump’ flattened by Lucy Higham coming round-the-wicket; *Finally, Mollie Robbins, was caught aerial at ‘long-on’ by Orla Prendergast, from Grace Ballinger; Somerset women batting: Amanda-Jade Wellington53(28), Fran Wilson33(35) Alex Griffiths28(23), Ellie Anderson27*not out(16) Mollie Robbins14(11); Blaze women bowling: Cassidy McCarthy 3/12, Grace Ballinger 2/25, Lucy Higham 2/34, Georgia Elwiss 1/24, Kirstie Gordon 1/33;
Match result: The Blaze (women) 252/6 (@7.6 runs-per-over from 33/33 overs); beat Somerset women 169 ‘All out’ (@7.5 r-p-o from 22.2/26 ov.; target 214 from 26 overs) by 44 runs (DLS Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method)
Scorecard with video highlights, courtesy of ECB via nv play at url: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=m_summary#mda073d24-a423-4b71-8e54-3913e94fea9e
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/scorecard/e-225562 & SKY Sports@url: https://www.skysports.com/cricket/somerset-women-v-the-blaze/scorecard/41425836-5b44-5771-9153-859547660d7a
*Full match free-to-air, courtesy of Somerset Cricket (nv play) via YouTube [07h15m20s] @url: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KU9si8DngvY
*Secret life of Wello by ‘Australia A’ player Amanda-Jade Wellington via ‘youtube’ @url: https://www.youtube.com/Secretlifeofwello
*Upcoming League one fixtures @url http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2025/05/22/metro-bank-league-one-fixtures-and-results-up-to-may-2025/
*Upcoming League two fixtures @url hhttp://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2025/05/25/metro-bank-league-two-fixtures-and-results-up-to-may-2025/
