By Grockle
April 25 2026

Second game at home and we welcome Surrey after dealing with Lancashire last weekend in pretty effective manner.  Somerset have chosen to bat first with all their internationals available today but the opposition are very strong and this will be a Test.  One of these sides will lose their unbeaten record today - the tie isn't all that likely.  A beautiful day with the first bit of summer heat.

Women's Metro 50 - v Surrey @ Taunton Saturday 25 April 2026

The county welcome a strong Surrey side to the County Ground. Somerset have won the toss and will bat first.  The side is;

Bex Odgers, Naimh Holland, Heather Knight, Ani Learoyd, Sophie Luff, Dani Gibson, Jess Hazell, Alex Griffiths, Charlie Dean, Chloe Skelton, Lola Harris

Liv Barnes and Katie Jones miss out from the squad announced and Odgers and Holland  walk out on a lovely spring day with a bit of heat in it to start the days proceedings against Tilly Corteen-Coleman first up.  She has Bex dropped on zero by Hodge at deep midwicket halfway through the first over - will that be relevant later?  The second over is taken by Maitlan Brown and a loose few early overs take us from a possible 0 for 1 to 18 from 3 with a flurry of boundaries from both openers. 

Before the end of the fourth however, Brown get her line in order and she bowls Holland for 14 at 24 for 1.  A bright start but it's yet to be seen if it will last as Heather Knight arrives at the crease.  After an over of spin she sets Bex up with a slightly shorter one saying 'Pull it Bex' and she does exactly that to Corteen-Coleman in front of the CA pavilion and she leaves for 10 at 27 for 2.  That was distinctly niave Bex.  In comes Sophie Luff after Brown takes 2 in 4 balls with some spin in between.

They reach the end of the powerplay at 42 for 2  as Moore comes on for the 11th.  Luff has 3 and Knight has 14 just before the Somerset bat brings up the 50 with a dismissive six to the Hildreth off Kalea Moore.  Knight  has moved into the 20s quite quickly.

Alice Monaghan takes over for the 12th at the MT end.  Alice Davidson-Richards (what is this penchant with women cricketers to have double barrelled surnames) comes on from the River and produces two good solid overs for a total of 9.  Knight has taken the lead role in the Somerset innings with Luff acting as support.  Surrey are now bowling to their field much more than they did in the early overs and the score had slowed accordingly.  Monaghan has had Heather playing and missing but she is still there and presently weaterhing the strom as the 50 partnership comes up at 77 for 2 from 75 balls.  While this pair are still there this innings has plenty of life however.  In 50 over there is space to take stock and re-assess the approach.

At 94 for 2 with a straight four off Monaghan, Heather moves to a 61 ball 50 with 3 fours and 2 sixes.  With 95 runs and 20 overs down there is a score around 250 on the cards or even more one might hope.

Sophie celebrates the return of Corteen-Coleman to the attack at the River by bringing up the Somerset 100 with a straight six to the Botham stand and we move on to 104 for 2 in the 21st.  In the next Monaghan over, Knight shows the class she has in bucketloads with a majestic straight four followed by a classic cut to the Somerset Stand boundary as Somerset exert some pressure of their own and move to 116 off 22 overs.

Moore changes ends to see if she has more help at the MT end but Knight reverses her off the first ball.  The 100 partnership arrives from a 108 balls at 127 for 2.  That shows an acceleration with the second 50 coming from 49 balls.

The 25 over drinks break arrives at 139 for 2 (they would have taken that for sure) with Luff on 37 from 49 and Knight moving onto 71 from 76.  Brown starts the second bit of the innings and an excellent pull shot to the Gimblett Scoreboard brings up the Somerset skipper's 50 from 57 balls with 3 fours and a six just after they take the score past 150 in the 27th.  Gregory has come on at the MT from the drinks break as well.

This is developing into an interesting game because we have chased down totals in the last two games but here we are setting the target and then will be tested to see if we can keep Surrey's wealth of batting talent within it.  It's a different but no more important check on where we are as a team in our second term.

After dismissing Brown to the Bothem boundary for four in the 29th, Sophie  tries the same again but gets an edge to Davidson-Richards at mid off and goes for 57 off 63 balls at 168 for 3.  A stand of 139 in 22 overs ends and Anika Learoyd makes her home debut as next bat in.  Great innings by the skipper and it has set the base for the next few bats coming in if they can build on it.

'Ani' Learoyd put the fear of God up the Lancashire commentators last weekend though she went early-ish.  We hope for a little more and she starts well with 11 off her first 7 balls.  However she plays across the line of one from Brown and only adds one more before leaving at 181 for 4 for 12 LBW.  In comes Dani Gibson

200 arrives for 4 in the 34th with Gibson on 11 and Knight moving into the 90s.  Gibson sends the next poor ball over the rope at the Gimblett without a bounce and we go on.  By 35 overs Somerset must be looking at 300 as they move to 213 for 4 with a Heather Knight 100 on the cards if she plays it right.  To stop that Alex Davidson-Richards changes ends to the MT for the 36th.  However, Gibson murders her with the cut shot to the Somerset on consecutive shots to move to 27 from 16.  

Monaghan is the next to change ends.  She starts by bowling two consecutive wides from the River. Is the pressure getting to the visitors?  Gibson is not waiting though as the 50 partnership comes off 33 balls and she moves to 34 from 19 as Monaghan bowls another wide.  Gibson moves to 40 in this over and is 45 before the end of it.  Surrey turn to Alice Capsey - not probably part of the plan.  They may be trying to get rid of Gibson but she moves to 48 and may reach the 50 before her partner sees 3 figures.  Knight takes the single to move to 97 from 101.  Gibson goes to 50 from 27 with 6 fours and a massive six to the Gimblett to add to her other one.  259 for 4 at the end of the 38th and they are dominating Surrey's bowling attack.

Corteen-Coleman returns for the 39th. Knight cuts through to the Caddyshack to go to 102 from 104 balls with 9 fours and 2 sixes.  Excellent innings from an excellent player.  266 for 4 with 11 overs to go.  She came in at 27 for 2.  The stand of 85 (from 50 balls) does not increase though as Knight skies one off Capsey and is caught at short square by Corteen-Coleman for 103 at 266 for 5.  In comes Charlie Dean.

With 10 overs to go we have reached 277 with Gibson still not slowing down with 68 from 32 and Dean has 2 from 2.  However she reverses Corteen-Coleman showing confidence to move to 8 from 4 in the 41st.  However, Gibson is not slowing down as she smacks consecutive fours off the young bowler to finish the over.  Gregory replaces Capsey at the MT.  The new bowler gets some significant rotations on the next one and it bowls Gibson for a storming 77 from a mere 37 balls (11 fours 2 sixes).  Totally foxed her with that one.  296 for 6 as Jess Hazell replaces her with 8 overs to go, the first from Maitlan Brown who has done well with her 46 for 4 off 9.  Gregory has got her line working but a Hazell single brings up the 300 in the 44th. 

At 313 for 6 they pass their highest 50 over score in the professional era passing 312 v Essex at Chelmsford last year.  However, the Surrey women are holding the new partnership in more of a check now they have seen the back of Gibson.  with 4 to go the score has moved to 318 with Dean making most of the runs with 25 from her 22.  She goes up the wicket to Corteen-Coleman and is caught in the deep by Davidson-Richards for that 25.  319 for 7 brings Griffiths into the fray and she can hit a long ball as well.  Coleman finishes with 1 for 56 from her 10.

Gregory bowls Griffiths for 2 halfway through the 48th at 323 for 8 and she has got her county back on track with this game at the back end and possibly given them a sniff of casing this total down.  Chloe Skelton comes out to try and make that less of a possiblity.  Hazell is still going for it and Chloe should be working to get her infront of the ball.  They have an over to go at 333 for 8.

Gregory takes the last and Skelton is caught and bowled from the second ball at 333 for 9.  In comes Lola Harris and she does her job of taking a single.  They take another single.  A single off the 5th leaves Jess to take the last.  She reverses and they finish on 337 for 9 with Hazell on 18 from 18 and Harris  on 2 from 2 with Gregory finishing on 3 for 57.

The Reply

Needing 338 to win, Surrey start with Smith and Schofield against the opening attack of Griffiths and Skelton.  They get off to a great start as Smith is bowled by Griffiths with the third ball of the second half and Surrey one 0 for 1.  That brings in Alice Capsey and things change a little.  Surrey are not going to die wondering if they can get this total.  Chloe Skelton is replaced by Charlie Dean after going for 15 off her first 2 and they get after Alex Griffiths as well. By the 6th over they have moved into the 30s when Charlie has Schofield LBW for 20 from 15 at 37 for 2.  This brings Davidson-Richards to the crease and the new pair pass 50 in the 7th over.  After the Powerplay 10th over the visitors have moved to 74 for 2 with Capsey on 28 from 26 and Richards on 22 from 17.  The 50 partnership arrives in the 13th at 88 for 2 from a mere 39 balls and by that time Somerset have used 5 bowlers with only Dean having a significant effect.  Dani Gibson has just been introduced and has tied the bats down a little but Griffiths went for 35 from her 4 and Naimh Holland gave 18 from her first 6 balls.  Can Somerset hold this side?  Well they need wickets regularyl if they are.

At 91 for 2 they introduce their 6th bowler as Lola Harris is introduced for the 14th with both Surrey bats moving into the 30s. The 100 arrives from a misfield from Hazell in the 15th.  Capsey has 37 and Richards has shot to 46 from 34.  This girl watchs Davidson-Richards and sees her hitting the length ball in the area of Knight she bowls her a couple and then lengthens a little and the Surrey bat get one she is not expecting and pops it to Heather and it is 113 for 3 as she goes for 48 bowled Lola Harris.  Excellent bit of cricket.

The new bat to the crease is Chatli to face Dani Gibson. Unfortunately, across the attack there are too many four balls being provided for the opposition.  Alice Capsey moves to 51 from 46 balls with 8 fours at 129 for 3.  The length ball seems to be causing problems but the halfway down delivery is not causing any difficulty at all and is peppering the rope far too often.  To win this one there have to be more length balls and better close fielding in the remainder of this game or Surrey will move past this. They need a rate of 6.5  an over and are presently scoring at more than 7.  Someone has to being the 'press' to the game for a significant period of time to create scoreboard pressure or Somerset need regular wickets... starting with Alice Capsey.

Lola seems to know the requirements.  In the 32nd she bowls a full length one to the Surrey captian Chatli.  The bat drives it back to the bowler and she dives to complete the dismissal caught and bowled for 10 at 135 for 4.  More brilliant cricket from the 'newbie' - that was a blinding catch.  In comes Wyatt-Hodge.

Charlie Dean is re-introduced from the River for the 21st as they finish 20 with 146 for 4.  Lola is replaced with Skelton who returns after a less than successful opening two.  Dean is showing the way with 1 for 19 from her 5 - well in excess of her team mates presently.  She pushes the Surrey bat back and back and back so she has to force the drive.  Capsey does that and she is caught by Luff in the covers for 59.  Brilliant again and it is 159 for 5 with Moore at the crease. Charlie Dean deserved that one (6/0/21/2).

Dean bowls a maiden to move the runs required over 7 for the first time. The 25 over drinks break sees Surey ahead of the runs needed but behind in the wickets lost.  After the break they re-introduce Harris This is in order to allow Skelton to change ends and give Dean a breather.  Wyatt-Hodge needs to go and they set her up as Harris bowls her the perfect ball that is skied straight to Skelton... who seems to have it but shells it on the Somerset Stand. We needed that.  However, Lola is not deterred and gets Moore 2 balls later walking across her stumps and then back into line before missing the ball and being plumb LBW for 6 at 170 for 6.  Not the wicket we wanted but a wicket we'll take anyway.  It moves the side closer as the required run rate rises again.

In comes Monaghan as Harris moves to 6/0/37/3. Danni Wyatt-Hodge is on 25 from 22.  In the 32nd over they re-introduce Naimh Holland who went for 18 from her first. 191 for 6 with Wyatt-Hodge on 34 and Monaghan on 8.  It works because of the briliance on Dean.  Wyatt-Hodge gets hold of one which is rising over the infield.  But it isn't high enough and Charlie hops up on one leg and simply grabs it out of the air - superb catch.  195 for 7 with the dangerous bat out for 38 and Brown at the crease still needing 143 for the win off 19 overs.

Then Chloe comes to the party to make up for her drop as she fools Brown and Jess Hazell stumps her for 1. 196 for 8.  In comes Gregory.  Then out goes Gregory as she is LBW to Skelton for no score.  The score has moved to 196 for 9 and we may win this by more than 100 runs.  Corteen-Coleman is the last bat in.  

The 200 arrives at the start of the 34th from a lofted drive from Colman. Dean finishes the game when she  has Colman bowled at 201 for 9 to bring the win by 136 runs.  What a great performance and a storming performances from Charlie Dean with the ball and Heather Knight with the bat. We had 17 overs left as well so this is a BIG win  

Things are definitely looking up in the West country.

Surrey with the Sun on Top

Discussion started by Grockles.com , 25/04/2026 10:09

Grockles.com
25/04/2026 10:09

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:04:28:22:01:13 by Grockle.

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Grockle
24/04/2026 19:10

Saturday sees us welcome top of the table Surrey to the County Ground.

Another Test after dealing with Yorkshire and last year's Champions Lancashire. This one will be no less of a challenge.

The Squad announced for the game is:

Knight, Odgers, Luff, Learoyd, Holland, Gibson, Hazell, Jones, Griffiths, Dean, Skelton, Harris, Barnes

The preview is below
Surrey Metro50

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Grockle
25/04/2026 09:53

Somerset have won the toss and will bat first. Olivia Barnes and Katie Jones have missed out

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Grockle
25/04/2026 16:12

Stonking win whenever you beat Surrey but by 137 runs with 17 overs left is pretty special on a beautiful spring day. BLACKBIRD

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Bagpuss
25/04/2026 18:20

Backing up victory against last season's 50 over champions with a bonus point win over the early leaders in this year's comp is quite a statement.

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Wiltshire55
25/04/2026 19:06

Fantastic!
I hope it was a decent crowd.
The squad seems to have learned well from last season - or maybe Erin Osborne can take some credit?

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Mike TA1
25/04/2026 19:39

I had a word with Sophie Luff on Press Day, she agreed with me last season was a learning-curve. I wished her and the team good luck for this season, it looks like they didn't need it, playing like they did today

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Loyal of Lhasa
25/04/2026 20:59

Is Heather Knight the greatest living Englishwoman?

Some of the shots she played today were sensational.

LoL

Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter

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