Warwickshire Bears Women are back in Metro Bank One Day Cup action on Wednesday 17 June, looking to maintain their good form in the competition against Somerset at The Maer Ground in Exmouth.
The Bears consolidated fourth place in the league with victory over Lancashire on Saturday, while Somerset fell to defeat against Hampshire.
Here’s what you need to know before the teams meet for the second time this season…
Bears’ form guide (last three)
W-W-W
With back-to-back wins prior to the three-week break in the schedule for the Vitality Blast, the Bears picked up exactly where they left off, winning a high-scoring game against Lancashire on Saturday.
Batting first, the Bears posted a daunting 314 for seven from their 50 overs thanks to centuries from Meg Austin and Katie George, who combined to put on 166 for the third wicket.
Lancashire threatened to chase down the total, with opening batter Eve Jones scoring a century of her own, but the left arm spin of Phoebe Brett (three for 42) and Charis Pavely (four for 54) did the damage for the Bears, as they dismissed the Red Rose for 294 to win by 20 runs.
Three in focus
Meg Austin
As mentioned above, Meg Austin played a decisive role in Warwickshire’s win at the weekend, with the 21-year-old arguably in the form of her life right now. She had an exceptional six matches in the Vitality Blast, scoring 209 runs, and has carried that form straight into 50-over cricket.
Phoebe Brett
The left arm spinner produced a fantastic spell to help the Bears over the line against Lancashire last time out, using her change of pace and plenty of turn to halt the Red Rose’s charge. Brett now has ten wickets in the competition at an average of 22.10.
Anika Learoyd
Learoyd struck 87 off 83 balls last time out against Hampshire, and was unfortunate to come out on the losing side. The Australian is a key part of Somerset’s batting line up and is one of the leading run-scorers in the competition with 352 runs at an average of 44.
Opposition insight
It’s been a season of two halves so far for Somerset in the Metro Bank One Day Cup. They started in blistering form, winning their opening three games, however they’ve since lost six in a row to fall to sixth in the current table.
Despite that run of results, Somerset have several key players in their side that can make a real difference. Anika Learoyd is one of those, and is our Somerset player to watch this week. Rebecca Odgers has 325 runs to her name in the competition, and is another to watch with the bat, while Niamh Holland top-scored for Somerset with 65 when these teams met earlier in the year.
With the ball, Alex Griffiths has been the pick of Somerset’s attack so far this season, taking 17 wickets with her pace, while Chloe Skelton’s off-spin has merited 16 wickets.
Previous meetings
When the two teams met earlier this season, it was a high-scoring affair at Edgbaston, with the Bears winning by 34 runs at its conclusion.
A brilliant 127 from Charis Pavely was supplemented by 45 from Davina Perrin at the top of the order and an unbeaten 58 off just 35 balls late on by Alexa Stonehouse, as the Bears reached a daunting 336 all out.
In reply, Holland’s 65 and 51 from Chloe Skelton couldn’t get Somerset over the line, as they were dismissed for 302 in the final over.
In last year’s competition, Somerset triumphed on both occasions against the Bears, winning by 48 runs in the first game before winning the final game of the season by four wickets.