Somerset (women) vs Essex (women) – match 18 – League One – at Taunton Vale Sports Club, Gipsy Lane Taunton, on Wednesday 29 April 2026
Two century partnerships in blustery conditions saw Somerset women’s first-loss and Essex women’s ‘well deserved’ first-win. Somerset women lost early wickets. That put pressure upon junior players to ‘step-up,’ with maiden competition fifties from Alex Griffiths 53*not out(from 50 balls); Anika Learoyd 56(72) and Katie Jones 79(89). Between innings, the match was ‘evenly poised’ after Somerset women lost three tail-enders’ whose wickets fell within the space of seven balls. That made an ‘excellent’ match, evenly contested with level-pegging until mid-way through Essex women’s reply [110/4 (vs 114/4).] Jodi Grewcock was ‘outstanding’ when scoring her maiden ‘ton’ [120*not out(from 116 balls).] Two unexpected century partnerships saw Essex women home. The first 106-run partnership between top-scorer Jodi Grewcock and Jo Gardner 50(61) was followed by an undefeated match-winning 116-run partnership with Flo Miller 54*not out (52.) Earlier when bowling ‘leg-spin,’ Jodi Grewcock also took the Somerset skipper’s wicket. Lead commentator for Somerset Cricket Live Stream TV was Ed ‘cricket’ Seabourne (BBC Radios Bristol & Glos) twice giving way to three reserve players Mollie Robbins with Emma Corney and international player Erin Vukusic ‘on debut.’ Weather: sunny but ‘very windy’ 17-18C
Somerset (women) wearing black with large white logos and plum helmets; *skipper Sophie Luff; *[Amara Carr keeping wicket for Essex women]; *guest international Anika Learoyd; (Australia Women’s Big Bash League WBBL); *Niamh Holland was bowled with her leg-stump knocked back and both bails sent flying by Sophie Munro; *Sweeping ‘across-the-line,’ Bex Odgers went ‘leg-before’ to Sophia Smale; *Playing forward defence, Sophie Luff went ‘leg-before’ to Jodi Grewcock’s leg-spin; *Score 27/3 after 10 overs power-play; *Jess Hazell went plumb ‘leg-before’ to Sophia Smale; *Mid-way for drinks, 114/4 after 25 overs; *Taking a huge swipe, Anika Learoyd was bowled ‘through-the-gate’ by Eva Gray; *Katie Jones was caught at ‘deep-mid-wicket’ by Jo Gardner, from Sophie Munro; *Chloe Skelton was caught aerial ‘in-the-deep’ by Flo Miller, from Eva Gray; *Ellie Anderson was stumped by Amara Carr, from Grace Scrivens; *Lola Harris was ‘run out’ at the non-striker’s end by Sophie Munro; Somerset women batting: Katie Jones 79(89); Anika Learoyd 56(72); Alex Griffiths 53*not out (50); Bex Odgers 24(34); Chloe Skelton 14(15); Niamh Holland 12(14); Essex women bowling: Sophia Smale 2/49(10); Eva Gray 2/49(9); Sophie Munro 2/58(10: Grace Scrivens 1/33(7); Jodi Grewcock 1/44(10);
Essex (women) wearing mauve tops and blue batting pads; skipper Grace Scrivens; [Jess Hazell keeping wicket for Somerset]; *Left-handed batter Grace Scrivens was bowled ’top-of-off’ (stump); *Cordelia Griffith was caught overhead at ‘extra cover’ by Sophie Luff, from Chloe Skelton; *Ariana Dowse was bowled ‘through-the-gate’ by Alex Griffiths; *Score 44/1 (vs 27/3) after 10 overs power-play; *Sweeping ‘across-the-stumps,’ Sophia Smale went ‘leg-before’ to Ellie Anderson;*Level-pegging mid-way for drinks, 110/4 (vs 114/4) after 25overs; *Scoring ‘fifty,’ sharing a century partnership, Jo Gardner was caught at ‘short-fine’ by Bex Odgers, from Alex Griffiths; *Undefeated match-winning partnership between Jodi Grewcock and Flo Miller; Essex women batting: Jodi Grewcock 120*not out (116) ; Flo Miller 54*not out(52); Jo Gardner 50(61); Sophia Smale 13(24); Somerset women bowling: Alex Griffiths 3/42(9); Ellie Anderson 1/54(9); Chloe Skelton 1/50(10);
Match result: Essex (women) 269/5 (@5.6 runs-per-over from 48/50overs) beat Somerset (women) 268/9 (@5.3 r-p-o from 50/50 ov.) by five wickets
*Scorecard with video highlights, courtesy of ECB via nv play at url: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=m_summary#m3035b9f8-aa62-4ac7-81e0-b8682e86aa6c
*Upcoming League one fixtures @url: https://www.ecb.co.uk/news/4408104/metro-bank-one-day-cup-womens-competition-fixtures-2026
*More about England selection for upcoming ODI series vs New Zealand @url: http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2026/04/28/tilly-corteen-coleman-named-in-england-t20-world-cup-squad/
