Surrey (women) Somerset (women) (match 18, league one – ‘double-header’ fixture) at The Kia Oval Kennington, South London on 31 May 2026
Somerset women’s skipper Sophie Luff was said to play a ‘sensational’ innings, when chalking-up her third ‘fifty’ from four matches. Somerset’s ‘massive win’ placed the level-on-points (at time of writing) with top-of-table Surrey women, as defending champions. Batting first, ‘in-form batter’ Jemima Spence [51*not out(35)] led a recovery scoring her maiden ‘fifty’ for Surrey women: partnered by Alice Davidson-Richards 34(33): the pair adding 49 runs for Surrey women’s fifth wicket; adding another 44 when partnered by Alice Monaghan for Surrey’s sixth. Turning to Somerset womens’ innings, skipper Sophie Luff formed three partnerships. Firstly with Alex Griffiths adding 41 runs; secondly with Chloe Skelton also adding 41 runs; and thirdly with debutante Ruby Davis who levelled the scores with ‘four’ and hit the winning ‘single.’ Alice Monaghan took career-best 3-fer (taking three wickets/conceding 24 runs).] Post-match, Sophie Luff said her ‘best ever’ innings came from playing ‘differently:’ by placing bowlers ‘under more pressure.’ Commentators were Cameron ‘Cam’ Ponsonby (Sports journalist) with Mark Church (BBC Sport); and former player Kirstie White (Invincibles & SE Stars.) Evening match. Weather: cloudy but ‘fairly dry,’ cooling from 18C.
Surrey women wearing light blue with dark blue sleeves over dark blue, with dark blue pads; *skipper Bryony Smith; *[Katie Jones keeping wicket for Somerset] *debutante >>; *with international player Laura Harris (Australia WBBL); *without Alice Capsey, Tilly Corteen-Coleman, Sophia Dunkley or Danni Wyatt-Hodge (England IT20 World-Cup call-up); *Mis-timing to ‘square,’ Kira Chathli went ‘leg-before’ to left-armed spinner Liv Barnes; *Bryony Smith ’snicked-an-edge’ to keeper Katie Jones, from Liv Barnes; *After 6 overs ‘power-play’ 34/2 *Paige Scholfield was bowled with her ‘leg-stump’ flattened by Niamh Holland; *Mis-timing ‘reverse-sweep,’ Laura Harris went ‘leg-before’ to Liv Barnes; *After 10 overs by ‘mid-way,’ 62/4; *Moving her feet but mis-timing, Alice Davidson-Richards went ‘leg-before’ to Niamh Holland; Surrey women batting: Jemima Spence 51*not out(35); Paige Scholfield 28(21); Alice Davidson-Richards 34(33); Alice Monaghan 20*not out(7); Kira Chathli 10(8); Somerset women bowling: Liv Barnes 3/21(4); Niamh Holland 2/20(3);
Somerset women wearing pink over black with plum helmets *skipper Sophie Luff; *[Ellie Threlkeld keeping wicket for Thunder] *debutante Ruby Davis (t20); *with international player Anika Learoyd (Australia); *without Charlie Dean, Dani Gibson, Heather Knight (England IT20 World-Cup call-up); *Bex Odgers ’snicked-an-edge’ to keeper Kira Chathli, from Alice Monaghan’s short-pitched ball; *Anika Learoyd was caught at ‘cover’ by Ryana Macdonald-Gay, from left-armed spinner Bethan Miles; *Playing ‘forward-defence,’ Niamh Holland was bowled ‘through-the-gate’ with her ‘off-stump’ flattened by Alice Monaghan; *After 6 overs ‘power-play’ 50/3 (vs34/2); *Mis-timing a ‘sweep,’ Katie Jones was caught at ‘short-fine’ by Dani Gregory, from Bethan Miles’ full-toss;’ *After 10 overs by ‘mid-way,’ 79/3 (vs62/4); *Mis-timing a ‘slog,’ Alex Griffiths was bowled by Alice Monaghan; *Penultimate over, Chloe Skelton was caught at ‘cover’ by Bryony Smith, from Ryana Macdonald-Gay; Somerset women batting: Sophie Luff 82*not out(53); Bex Odgers 17(10); Chloe Skelton 11(17); Katie Jones 10(16); Surrey women bowling: Alice Monaghan 3/24(4); Bethan Miles 2/30(4); Ryana Macdonald-Gay 1/31(4);
Match result: Somerset (women) 154/6 (target 154 from 19.3/20 overs @7.8 runs-per-over) beat Surrey (women) 153/5 (@7.6 r-p-o from 20 ov.) by four wickets with three balls remaining
*Scorecard with video highlights, courtesy of ECB via nv play @url: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=m_scorecard#c9cd38578-5761-4c81-a024-f69ca8c04caa_me5e80000-9b94-4272-6673-08de2c26e113
*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/
