Report: Somerset v Bears Women, Vitality Blast
Somerset 126-5 beat Warwickshire 123-8 by five wickets.
Warwickshire Bears were unable to end their wait for a first Vitality Blast victory as Somerset claimed a five-wicket win at the Cooper Associates Ground, Taunton.
The Bears posted 123-8 after electing to bat, with Meg Austin and Mary Taylor top-scoring with 31 apiece, before Somerset chased down their target with 3.4 overs to spare. Niamh Holland led the home side’s reply with 42 from 31 balls as Somerset recorded their fourth win in five matches.
Warwickshire made a positive start after winning the toss, Austin twice driving Alex Griffiths for four in an opening over that yielded 14 runs. Somerset responded through spin, claiming two wickets in as many overs as Abi Freeborn sliced Chloe Skelton to point and Georgia Redmayne lost her off stump to Liv Barnes with the score on 26-2.
Austin continued to hold the innings together, striking four boundaries in her 31 from 26 balls before miscuing Erin Vukusic to long off. The Bears then suffered a further setback when Nat Wraith was run out attempting a second run, leaving the visitors 53-4.
Somerset tightened their grip during the middle overs, Barnes dismissing Charis Paveley before Amu Surenkumar, Alexa Stonehouse and Millie Taylor also departed as the Bears slipped to 72-7. However, Mary Taylor remained unbeaten on 31 from 32 balls to help guide Warwickshire to 123-8 and ensure a respectable finish to the innings.
Somerset’s chase began briskly, Sophie Luff and Bex Odgers sharing an opening stand of 38 before both fell with the score unchanged. Stonehouse removed Odgers, while Mary Taylor trapped Luff lbw as the Bears fought their way back into the contest.
Anika Learoyd and Holland then took control, combining for a third-wicket partnership of 54 to move Somerset to 89-2 at halfway. Learoyd was bowled by Paveley for 20, while Holland later fell to Millie Taylor thanks to a superb catch by Austin at point.
Georgia Davis also claimed a wicket as the Bears continued to battle for breakthroughs, but Griffiths and Skelton saw Somerset over the line to secure victory.

