Warwickshire Bears (women) vs Somerset (women) (match 6, league one – ‘double-header’ fixture) at Birmingham, ‘Edgbaston’ Stadium on 24 May 2026
Somerset cruised to victory with ‘ impressive batting’ by guest Australian Anika Learoyd who made top-score [60*not out(from 49 balls).] Bears had ‘much to reflect upon,’ having given the Somerset skipper a reprieve with one of three’ dropped catches’ said by commentators to have ‘cost Bears the match.’ Somerset skipper Sophie Luff’s match-winning partnership with Anika Learoyd banked 84 runs. Commentators were impressed by the pairs ’good batting’ and exhibition stroke-play,’ but conceded that Bears fielding was ‘less than what was hoped for’ by the Edgblaston home crowd; when compared to their competitiveness, seen only last year. Commentators for Bears TV Livestream were Aatif Nawaz (host) with Melinda Farrell (The Blaze TV & SKY TV) Adam Bridge (Bears TV) and ‘media award-winner’ Aaron Viles (Cricketfanaticsmag.com.) Weather: ‘glorious’ blue sky 24C.
Bears women wearing ’sky’ blue diamond cheque with yellow trim over dark blue; with yellow helmets and black caps; *skipper Georgia Davis *[Katie Jones keeping wicket for Somerset] *with international player Georgia Redmayne (Australia);*Abbey Freeborn was caught aerial ‘inside-the-ring’ at ‘cover’ by Sophie Luff, from Liv Barnes; *After 6 overs ‘power-play’ 58/1; *Meg Austin was ‘run-out’ by Chloe Skelton throw to Alex Griffiths receiving at the non-striker’s end; *94/2 by ‘mid-way’ (after 10 overs); *Left-handed batter Georgia Redmayne was bowled by Niamh Holland ; *Chloe Brewer was stumped by Katie Jones, from Chloe Skelton; *Amu Surenkumar was caught aerial at ‘long-on’ by Niamh Holland from Erin Vukusic; *Nat Wraith was ‘run-out’ from ‘deep mid-wicket’ by Alex Griffiths’s throw to Katie Jones receiving at the striker’s end; *Mis-timing a ‘huge swing’, Mary Taylor was bowled ‘through-the-gate’ by Erin Vukusic; *Alexa Stonehouse was caught at ‘deep mid-wicket’ by Alex Griffiths, from Erin Vukusic; *Millie Taylor was stumped by Katie Jones, from Niamh Holland; Bears women batting: Meg Austin 41(29); Georgia Redmayne 30(23); Amu Surenkumar 28(20); Abbey Freeborn 16(9); Mary Taylor 15(13); Somerset women bowling: Erin Vukusic 3/32(4); Niamh Holland 2/23(4); Liv Barnes 1/30(3); Chloe Skelton 1/35(4);
Somerset women wearing pink over black with plum helmets *skipper Sophie Luff; [Nat Wraith keeping wicket for Bears]; *with international player Anika Learoyd (Australia); *without Charlie Dean, Dani Gibson, Heather Knight (England IT20 World-Cup call-up); *Bex Odgers was caught at ‘long-on’ by Meg Austin, from Phoebe Brett; *After 6 overs ‘power-play’ 68/1 (vs 58/1)& 102/1 (vs94/2) by ‘mid-way’ (after 10 overs); *Mis-timing ‘reverse-sweep,’ Sophie Luff was bowled by Georgia Davis; *Mis-timing ‘slog-sweep,’ Niamh Holland was bowled by Phoebe Brett; Somerset women batting: Annika Learoyd 60*not out(49); Sophie Luff 58(33); Niamh Holland 16(12); Bex Odgers 14(9); Bears women bowling: Phoebe Brett 2/31(3); Georgia Davis 1/34(4);
Match result: Somerset (women) 167/3 (target 167 from 18.2/20 overs @9.1 runs-per-over) beat Warwickshire Bears (women) 166/9 (@8.3 r-p-o from 20 ov.) by seven wickets
*Scorecard with video highlights, courtesy of ECB via nv play at url: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=m_scorecard#me5e80000-9b94-4272-ab95-08de2c26e003
*Upcoming League one ‘Vitality Blast’ (20ov.) 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/
