Somerset (women) vs Essex (women) (match 52, league one – ‘double-header’ fixture) at The Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton on 12 July 2026
Sixth season’s win nudged Essex women into fifth place – ahead of Somerset: with both teams having missed their last chance to qualify for finals day. Batting first, Essex women posted a defendable score. Liberty Heap [37*not out(from 31 balls)] made top-score. Rested from England duty, Charlie Dean took a ‘hat-trick’ of wickets from her last three balls. Turning to Somerset womens’ reply, the match was all but decided once three ‘top-order’ wickets fell approaching ‘mid-way (after 10 overs) on 50/6 (vs 78/3.) Stand-out batter was Jess Hazell [37*not out(from 28)] who made top-score when faced by an impossible task. Four Essex bowlers defended ten-runs-per-over and finished with two wickets each. Commentators for Somerset Cricket livestream were Charlie Taylor (BBC Sport) and Peter Trego (former Somerset player) with guest Emma Corney (reserve player.) Weather: cloudless blue sky (continuing heat wave) 30C.
Essex women wearing full-fronted red, full-backed mauve over sleeveless navy blue; *skipper Grace Scrivens; *[Jess Hazell keeping wicket for Somerset women];*with Bryony Gillgrass (England Women U19 Tri-Series Squad 2026); *with Liberty Heap (Lancs Thunder loan); *with international player Anneke Bosch (Republic of South Africa); *Anneke Bosch was caught comfortably at ‘deep mid-wicket’ by Niamh Holland, from Alex Griffiths; *After 6 overs ‘power-play 53/1; *With a huge heave, Sophia Smale was caught at ‘deep mid-wicket’ by Alex Griffiths from Chloe Skelton; *Left-armed batter Grace Scrivens was ‘run-out’ by Liv Barnes’ down-wicket throw to keeper Jess Hazell, breaking the striker’s end wicket;*Score 78/3 by ‘mid-way (after 10 overs); *Left-armed batter Jodi Grewcock was bowled when sweeping ’across-the-line,’ by Liv Barnes; *Jo Gardner was caught at ‘extra-cover’ by Anika Learoyd, from Lola Harris; *Bryony Gillgrass, was caught ‘in-the-covers’ by Anika Learoyd, from Erin Vukusic; *Top-scorer Liberty Heap ‘top-edged’ sweeping to ‘third,’ caught by Lola Harris, from Charlie Dean; *Next ball Eva Gray was bowled ‘through-the-gate’ by Charlie Dean for a ‘golden duck’; *Hat-trick when Kate Coppack miss-timed ‘reverse-sweep,’ bowled for another ‘golden duck’ from Charlie Dean’s final innings ball; Essex women batting: Liberty Heap 37(31); Grace Scrivens 32(26); Jo Gardner 30(17); Jodi Grewcock 19(17); Bryony Gillgrass 12(7); Anneke Bosch 10(7); Sophia Smale 10(12); Somerset women bowling: Charlie Dean 3/63(4); Chloe Skelton 1/16(3); Liv Barnes 1/17(3); Erin Vukusic 1/17(3); Alex Griffiths 1/30(2); Lola Harris 1/32(4);
Somerset women wearing all-black with plum helmets and black caps; *skipper Sophie Luff; *[Amara Carr keeping wicket for Essex women] *with international player Anika Learoyd – final match (Australia Womens’ Big Bash League); *without Heather Knight or Danni Gibson (England Test Match call-up); *Bex Odgers was caught inside-the-circle at ‘mid-wicket’ by Anneke Bosch from Kate Coppack; *Advancing down-wicket, Sophie Luff was caught at ‘mid-on’ by Esmae MacGregor, from Sophia Smale’s ‘full-toss’; *Mistiming a ‘sweep,’ Niamh Holland edged to keeper Amara Carr, from Kate Coppack; *After 6 overs ‘power-play 30/3(vs 53/1); *Alex Griffiths went ‘leg-before’ to Eva Gray, slipping and falling over; *Two balls later, Anika Learoyd was caught aerial at ‘long-on’ by Jo Gardner from Eva Gray; *Next ball, non-striker Charlie Dean was ‘run-out’ by Eva Gray deflecting the returned ball to break stumps at the non-striker’s end; *Score 50/6 (vs 78/3) by ‘mid-way (after 10 overs); *Short of a second ‘run,’ Chloe Skelton was ‘run-out’ from the ‘covers’ by Liberty Heap’s throw to Sophia Smale receiving at the non-striker’s end; *Lola Harris was caught aerial at ‘mid-wicket’ by Anneke Bosch, from Bryony Gillgrass; *Liv Barnes top-edged, caught aerial by keeper Amara Carr, from Sophia Smale; *Final ball, Erin Vukusic was caught aerial at ‘mid-off’ by Kate Coppack from Bryony Gillgrass; Somerset women batting: Jess Hazell 37*not out(28); Alex Griffiths 15(18); Anika Learoyd 12(17); Sophie Luff 11(10): Essex women bowling: Eva Gray 2/11(3); Kate Coppack 2/20(4); Sophie Smale 2/22(4); Bryony Gillgrass 2/26(4);
*Match result: Essex (women) 163/9 (@8.1 runs-per-over from 20ov.) beat Somerset (women) 122 ‘All out’ (@6.1 r-p-o /target 164 from 20ov.) by 41 runs
*Video scorecard, courtesy of ECB via nv play @url: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=m_scorecard#me5e80000-9b94-4272-f23a-08de2c26e409
*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/
