Somerset (women) vs Hampshire Hawks (women) (match 2, league one – ‘double-header’ fixture) at Taunton, The Cooper Associates County Ground (Somerset) on Friday 22 May 2026
‘High drama’ struck Hampshire’s opening match when they became the only womens team in the competition’s first round that batted second, but didn’t win. Batting first, Somerset women took advantage of ‘error-strewn’ fielding, that enabled opener Bex Odgers [57 runs (from 38 balls) to chalk-up her career-best score at 20 overs; scoring her half-century in 31-balls. Previously, Bex Odgers’ best competition score was 54 (37) vs Durham Cricket on 4 July 2025. Somerset’s second-wicket stand between Bex Odgers and top-scoring guest Australian Anika Learoyd posted 90 runs. Best Hawks bowler was Georgia Adams, who took a 3-fer (3wickets/conceding 24 runs.) Turning to Hawks reply, skipper Adams partnered by top-scorer Ella McCaughan 69(46) posted an opening stand of 87. Match advantage then swung both ways. Niamh Holland took three wickets during between the 17th-19th overs to bag her career-best 4-fer (4/21.) Match reached its climax when Abi Norgrove became stranded at the striker’s end, scoring ‘two’ from the final-ball to tie the match. Commentators were Kevan ‘Kev’ James (BBC Sport, radio Solent) with Anthony Gibson (Somerset Radio) and guests. Weather: cloudless with ‘glorious’ sunshine 22C.
Somerset women wearing pink over black with plum helmets and white numbers *skipper Sophie Luff; [Rhianna Southby keeping wicket for Hawks]; *without Charlie Dean, Dani Gibson, Heather Knight (England call-ups);*debut t20 international player Anika Learoyd (Australia, womens ‘big-bash’ league WBBL); *Sophie Luff played-on ‘top-of-middle’ with both bails sent flying by left-armed spinner Bex Tyson; *After 6 overs ‘power-play’ 44/1 & 81/1 by ‘mid-way’ (after 10 overs); *Bex Odgers was caught at ‘backward-point’ by Daisy Gibb, from Georgia Adams; *Niamh Holland was caught aerial at ‘long-on’ by Naomi Dattani, from Georgia Adams; *Mis-timing ‘reverse-sweep,’ Alex Griffiths was caught at ‘point’ by Amanda-Jade Wellington, from Georgia Adams; *Chloe Skelton was ‘run-out’ from ‘mid-wicket’ by Abi Norgrove’s throw to Georgia Adams receiving at the non-striker’s end, for a ‘golden-duck;’ *Finally, Katie Jones was bowled by Daisy Gibb;Somerset women batting: Anika Learoyd 61*not out(49); Bex Odgers 57(38); Niamh Holland 14(15); Alex Griffiths 12(9); Hawks women bowling: Georgia Adams 3/24(4); Bex Tyson 1/20(4); Daisy Gibb 1/37(4);
Hawks women wearing full-backed and half-fronted striped yellow tops and yellow batting pads over navy blue; *skipper Georgia Adams *[Katie Jones keeping wicket for Somerset]; *debut t20 international player Amanda-Jade Wellington (Australia ‘WBBL); *without Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier, Freya Kemp & Linsey Smith (England call-up),* After 6 overs ‘power-play’ 53/0 (vs 44/1); *Level-pegging on 87/0 (vs 81/1) by ‘mid-way’ (after 10 overs); *Georgia Adams was bowled ‘off-stump’ by Niamh Holland; *Ella McCaughan was caught at ‘mid-off’ by Bex Odgers, from Lola Harris; *Naomi Dattani was bowled by Niamh Holland; *Two balls later, Francesca Sweet was bowled by Niamh Holland; for a second-ball ‘duck;’ *Amanda-Jade Wellington was caught at ‘point’ by Sophie Luff, from Niamh Holland; Hawks women batting: Ella McCaughan 69(46); Georgia Adams 36(30); Rhianna Southby 17*not out(7); Amanda-Jade Wellington 14(12); Naomi Dattani 13(14); Somerset women bowling: Niamh Holland 4/21(4); Lola Harris 1/26(3);
Match result: Somerset (women) 159/6 (7.9 runs-per-over, from 20 overs) tied with Hampshire Hawks (women) 159/5 (@7.9 r-p-o from 20 ov./target 160 from 20/20 ov.)
*Scorecard with video highlights, courtesy of ECB via nv play at url: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=m_scorecard#me5e80000-9b94-4272-6012-08de2c26dfa2
*Upcoming League one ‘Vitality Blast’ (20overs) fixtures @url: http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2025/12/17/vitality-blast-league-one-fixtures-for-2026-3-of-4/
*Upcoming League one ‘MetroBank’ (50ov.) fixtures with mid-term results @url: http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2026/05/17/metro-bank-one-day-cup-league-one-women/
