Somerset (women) vs Durham Cricket (women) (match 29, league one – ‘double-header’ fixture) at The Cooper Associates County Ground Taunton on 26 June 2026
Fourth back-to-back competition win by Durham Cricket women, who chased-down their target score in challenging climatic conditions. Batting first, Somerset womens’ skipper Sophie Luff 56(38) top-scored with ‘fifty.’ As DC womens’ best bowler, Mady Villiers chalked-up a 4-fer (taking 4 wickets/conceding 28 runs) her best figures for DC at in the shorter format (t20.) Durham Cricket womens’ run-chase was underpinned by a ‘fifty’ first-wicket partnership between Mady Villiers 30(22) and skipper Hollie Artmitage [65*not out(from 45 balls)] who made top-score. The match saw Durham Cricket a nose ahead by mid-way *75/1 (vs69/3) and was decided during the final over when the winning ball went for 4 ‘wides.’ Commentators for Somerset Cricket livestream were Charlie Taylor BBC Sport (Somerset) with Peter Trego; and Kieran Peters interviewed pitch-side before the match (Assistant Coach at Somerset and Women’s batting coach.) Weather: cloudless blue sky with record June heat, minimum 30C.
Somerset women wearing all-black with plum helmets and black caps; *skipper Sophie Luff; *[Mia Rogerskeeping wicket for DC women] *with international player Anika Learoyd (Australia Womens Big-Bash League); *without Charlie Dean, Dani Gibson, Heather Knight (England IT20 World-Cup call-up) *Mis-timing ‘square,’ Bex Odgers was bowled by Mady Villiers; *Next over, Anika Learoyd was bowled ‘top-of-middle’ with bails sent flying by Katie Levick; *After 6 overs ‘power-play’ 42/2; *Ramping to ‘fine,’ Niamh Holland was caught at ‘short-fine’ by Trudy Johnson, from Abi Glen; *69/3 by ‘mid-way (after 10 overs); *Katie Jones was caught at ‘extra-cover’ by Hollie Armitage, from Mady Villiers; *Shuffling too far forward, Sophie Luff was stumped by Mia Rogers, from Mady Villiers; *Mis-timing ‘square,’ three balls later, Ruby Davis was bowled ‘through-the-gate’ by Mady Villiers; *Chloe Skelton was ‘run-out’ from ‘cover’ by Abi Glen’s throw to keeper Mia Rogers receiving at the striker’s-end; Somerset women batting: Sophie Luff 56(38); Alex Griffiths 31(*not out(25); Chloe Skelton 26(15); Bex Odgers 17(11); Niamh Holland 15(18); Durham Cricket women bowling: Mady Villiers 4/28(4); Katie Levick 1/39(4); Abi Glen 1/18(2);
Durham Cricket women wearing yellow splash over dark-blue with white numbers and dark blue caps with yellow pads; *Skipper Hollie Armitage *[Katie Jones keeping wicket for Somerset women); *With international player Heather Graham (Australia WBBL); *without Lauren Filer (England IT20 World-Cup call-up) *without Katherine Fraser(Scotland IT20 World-Cup call-up); *Mady Villiers was caught at ‘extra-cover’ by Anika Learoyd, from Erin Vukusic; *After 6 overs ‘power-play’ 53/1 (vs42/2); & *75/1 (vs69/3) by ‘mid-way (after 10 overs); *Sweeping across-the-line, Emily Windsor was bowled ‘middle-and-off’ by Chloe Skelton; *Next over, Bess Heath was caught at ‘deep mid-wicket’ by Alex Griffiths from Liv Barnes’ full-toss;’ *Mis-timing a ‘swipe,’ Heather Graham was bowled ‘top-of-middle,’ by Chloe Skelton; Durham Cricket women batting: Hollie Armitage 65*not out(45); Mady Villiers 30(22); Emily Windsor 25(21); Heather Graham 13(13); Mia Rogers 12*not out(8); Somerset women bowling: Chloe Skelton 2/30(4); Erin Vukusic 1/39(4); Liv Barnes 1/31(4);
*Match result: Durham Cricket (women) 158/4 (@8.1 runs-per-over from 19.1 ov./ target 156 from 20ov.) beat Somerset (women) 155/7 (@7.7 r-p-o from 20ov.) by six wickets with 5 balls remaining
*Video scorecard, courtesy of ECB via nv play @url: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=m_scorecard#me5e80000-9b94-4272-bf7b-08de2c26e211
*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: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=m_summary#me5e80000-9b94-4272-bf7b-08de2c26e211
