Somerset (women) vs Surrey (women) (match 34, league one – ‘stand-alone’ fixture) at The Cooper Associates County Ground Taunton on 28 June 2026
Defending inaugural Vitality Blast league champions Surrey women won a ‘crunch match’ decided by the final over. Commentators said there was ‘little to choose between each team,’ both competing for a ’top-four’ place, on the back of four wins, two losses and one tie. When batting, both skippers made ‘fifties:’ Sophie Luff 52 runs (from 39 balls) and Bryony Smith 63(51) When bowling, both teams took 3-fers [Niamh Holland 3/22for Somerset; Laura Harris 3/16 for Surrey.] When summarising, commentators felt that Surrey tail-enders ‘made hard work’ of their run-chase, after guest Australian Laura Harris – pictured departed, having plundered 26 runs from 12 balls: including consecutive ‘sixes.’ Key moments included Somerset’s teenage debutante Maddie Russell taking her first ‘A-list’ wicket from her fifth delivery. Also during the final ‘over’ when the match could have gone either way until Phoebe Franklin struck the winning ‘four.’ Commentators for Somerset Cricket livestream were Ed ‘cricket’ Seabourne SW (BBC Radio Bristol & BBC Radio Glos) and Peter Trego (former Somerset player) with guest Emma Corney (reserve player.) Weather: breezy following heatwave and overnight rain 20C.
Somerset women wearing all- black with plum helmets and black caps; *skipper Sophie Luff; *[Jemima Spence keeping wicket for Surrey women] *debutante Maddie Russell; *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 ‘revere-sweep,’ Bex Odgers went ‘leg-before’ to Laura Harris; *After 6 overs ‘power-play’ 57/1; *Score 85/1 by ‘mid-way (after 10 overs); *Anika Learoyd was caught aerial at ‘extra-cover’ by Bryony Smith, from Laura Harris; *Mis-timing to ‘square,’ Niamh Holland was bowled, with ‘middle-and-off’ bail dislodged by Bethan Miles; *Alex Griffiths was caught aerial at ‘mid-wicket’ by Kalea Moore, from Dani Gregory; *Shuffling too far forward, Sophie Luff (who scored fifty) was stumped by keeper Jemima Spence, from Laura Harris; *Final ball: Jess Hazell, was ‘run-out’ from ‘deep mid-wicket’ by Phoebe Franklin’s throw directed by Dani Gregory (bowler) to Jemima Spence, receiving at the striker’s end; Somerset women batting: Sophie Luff 52(39); Bex Odgers 30(22); Anika Learoyd 19(21); Jess Hazell10(8); Surrey women bowling: Laura Harris 3/16(3); Dani Gregory 1/23(4);
Surrey women wearing light blue with dark blue sleeves over dark blue, with dark blue pads; *skipper Bryony Smith; *[Jess Hazell keeping wicket for Somerset women] *unchanged *with international player Laura Harris (Australia WBBL); *without Alice Capsey, Tilly Corteen-Coleman, Sophia Dunkley, Ryana Macdonald-Gay or Danni Wyatt-Hodge (England IT20 World-Cup call-up); *Paige Scholfield was caught aerial at ‘backward point’ by Sophie Luff, from Maddie Russell; *53/1(vs57/1) After 6 overs ‘power-play;’ *Laura Harris was caught at ‘long-off’ by Erin Vukusic, from left-armed bower Liv Barnes, coming round-the-wicket; *Level-pegging 87/2 (vs85/1) by ‘mid-way (after 10 overs); *Jemima Spence was caught at ‘short fine’ by Bex Odgers, from Lola Harris’ leg-side ‘full-toss;’ *Mis-timing ‘slog,’ Alice Monaghan was caught at ‘gully’ by Ruby Davis, from Maddie Russell; *Missing ‘scoop,’ Bryony Smith exposed her stumps and was bowled by Niamh Holland; *Miss-timing ‘sweep,’ Aylish Cranstone was ‘clean-bowled’ by Erin Vukusic; *Missing ‘slog,’ Kalea Moore was bowled by Niamh Holland; *Three balls later, Bethan Miles was bowled by Niamh Holland, for a second-ball ‘duck;’ Surrey women batting: Bryony Smith 63(51); Laura Harris 26(12); Phoebe Franklin 19*not out(9); Jemima Spence 13(11); Paige Scholfield 10(10); Somerset women bowling: Niamh Holland 3/22(4); Maddie Russell 2/22(3); Erin Vukusic 1/31(4); Lola Harris 1/28(3.2); Liv Barnes 1/29(3);
*Match result: Surrey (women) 152/8 (@7.8 runs-per-over from 19.2/20ov.) beat Somerset (women) 148/6 (@7.4 r-p-o from 20ov.) by two wickets with 4 balls remaining
*Video scorecard, courtesy of ECB via nv play @url: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=m_scorecard#me5e80000-9b94-4272-6851-08de2c26e283
*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
