Report: Bears Women v Somerset Women, Vitality Blast
Somerset, 167 for 3, beat Warwickshire 166 for 9, by seven wickets.
Somerset claimed their first win of the 2026 Vitality Blast campaign with a seven-wicket victory over the Bears at Edgbaston.
The Bears posted 166 for nine after electing to bat, with Meg Austin top-scoring with 41 from 29 balls and Amu Surenkumar adding an entertaining 28 from 20. However, regular wickets and a couple of costly run outs limited the hosts’ ability to build sustained momentum despite a positive start.
Austin and Abi Freeborn put on 34 inside the opening three overs before Freeborn fell to Olivia Barnes. Georgia Redmayne then shared a 47-run partnership with Austin, making 30 from 23 balls, but Somerset continued to strike at key moments to keep the innings in check.
Surenkumar provided impetus in the middle overs with the innings’ first six before Erin Vukusic led the visitors’ bowling effort with three for 32. Niamh Holland also impressed with two for 23 as the Bears finished slightly below the total they would have hoped for on a good batting surface.
Somerset’s chase got off to a fortunate start with an early dropped catch and a no ball reprieve, and the visitors capitalised through Sophie Luff and Anika Learoyd. Luff struck 58 from just 33 balls, sharing an 84-run partnership with Learoyd to put Somerset in control of the chase.
Georgia Davis removed Luff after a half-century, but Learoyd remained unbeaten on 60 from 49 balls to guide Somerset to victory with ten balls remaining.
The Bears, missing several players through international duty and injury, will look to respond quickly as they continue their Vitality Blast campaign.

