By Grockle
June 26 2026

We move into the sharp end of the Blast as these games start to decide rankings and who is going where.  Somerset have won 4 out of the last 5 and Durham have won their last 3.  There is one point between the teams as we move towards the Finals.  No Quarters in the Women's version they go straight from the leagues to the Finals Day.

 She breaks the partnership by having Women's Blast Game 7 v Durham @ Taunton Friday 26 June 2026

As hot as hell in the West country as we welcome out T20 nemesis Durham to Taunton for a game that will decide positions with 1 point between the two sides.  Durham have a good record against us but we have won more of our last 5 games than they have.

Somerset have won the toss and will bat first in temperatures well into the 30s

The side is;

Odgers, Luff (c), Learoyd, Holland, Davis, Griffiths, Jones (w), Skelton, Harris, Barnes, Vukusic

Our openers will be facing Trudy Johnson who goes for 8 off her first.  She is partnered by Heather Graham who allows the Soemrset opening pair to add 5.  Durham ring the changes early with Maddie Villiers taking the third and she send Bex on her war as she tries to play across the line and is bowled for 17 at 22 for 1.  In comes Anika Learoyd.  

The changes continue as Katie Levick comes n for the fourth over and we see Anika do almost exactly the same as Bex playing across a ball from the spinner, missing it and geting bowled for 4 at 28 for 2.  This brings Naimh in to start the 5th over, the second bowled by Johnson.  We end it at 39 for 2.  The 'Powerplay' is completed by Graham and ends at 42 for 2 with Luff on 11 and Holland on 8.

Sophia Turner becomes the 5th bowler in 7 overs and a slapped four to the Hildreth from the skipper brings up the Somerset 50 - 51 for 2 after 7.  Levick returns for the 8th and then Abi Glen becomes the 6th with the ball and she breaks the partnership as Naimh Holland doesn't get enough on a ball whicvh just pops up to Johnson and she departs for 15 at 65 for 3.  She is replaced by Katie Jones

While trying to push it on, she becomes a victom  of Villiers as she is caught at extra cover by Armitage for 3 and goes at 72 for 4 just after the drinks break.  Sophie is holding this ininngs together with 33 from 26 as she is joined by Griffiths as Glen changes ends to come in for the 12th from the River.  Luff hits her to the CA for consecutive boundaries.  She then slog sweeps her to the Somerset at the end of the over to move the score to 89.  Two sets of two move Sophie to her 13th 50 (32 balls) for Somerset at 96 for 4 and she is now the top scorer in the Vitality Blast in 2026.

She is then given a life on 50 as she is dropped at square leg by Abi Windsor and Alex is almost run out as she committed to the run.  The 100 comes up from the nmext ball courtzesy of as Luff sweeps for four to the Gimblett.  102 for 4 at the end of the 14th. 

Villiers sends the skipper back to the dressing room as she is stumped sharply by Rogers halfway through the 15th for 56 at 105 for 5. Out comes Ruby Davis but she is not long for the middle as she is bowled for 1 in the same over, again looking to slog sweep across the line.

5 overs to go and it is 106 for 6 with a job still required from the bats coming in.  Chloe Skelton joins Alex.  Mady Villiers bowls out with her best for Durham of 4 for 28 from her spell.  At 121 for 6 at the start of the 18th Chloe gets the whole of one to the Hildreth boundary and with 2 to go they have moved the score to 135 for 6 with Griffiths on 20 and Skelton on 18.

2 overs to go and a score around 150 desirable.  Alex is taking on the leg spin of Levick, she misses the first but is down the wicket to the next two to bisect the fielders in front of the Ondaatje.  They move to 145 for 6 with 6 balls to go.  Graham takes the last with Skelton on strike, they take two off the first, two off the first and THREE off the third - which is good as Chloe looks knackered.    The 150 comes up at 152 for 6 and they then move it to 154.  The running finally lets them down as Skelton does not make it and is run out by Glen.  Griffiths will finish with 31 from 25.  The partnership was 48 in 29 balls and Lola takes the single to finish on a very creditable 155 for 7. 

The Reply

Villiers and Armitage open for the visitors against Vukusic and Skelton after overs from Griffiths and Liv Barnes opened.  After 4 they have 31 and that becomes 35 with a first ball four off Barnes. Another boundary moves them into the 40's.  The 50 arrivres with a boundary off a poor ball from Erin moving Durham to 51 without loss.  That prompts a slower ball and Villiers fires the ball to Learoyd at extra cover off Vukusic and it is 51 for 1 with Villiers out for 30 from 22 balls.  The 'Powerplay' ends with Windsor facing the last of the 6th.  Erin bowls a wide forst before the new bat takes a single to finish that phase on 53 for 1.  

Naimh Holland starts her bowling work with the 7th.  Lola than takes the 8th.  There is a distinct difference in the outfielding of Durham and us.  They were much more 'on it' in their performance and did not let much through.  We are still a little less focused in that aspect of our game.  62 for 1 after the 8th.  Lola went for 5 and Chloe comes back after her first went for 6. A last boundary takes 7 off her second.

Halfway sees the visitors at 75 for 1 (we were 69 for 3)  Armitage is the key to this game at the moment, in the 30s, if she stays in then one would expect Durham to win this one.  Holland takes the 11th and then Skelton changes ends.  Unfortunately each over has a boundary in it.  Chloe creates the breakthrough though bowling Windsor taking the bail at the top of off - she goes for 25 at 88 for 2 in the 12th. However, one would probably still be rather in Durham's position than Somerset's at the moment.

To try and change that we turn to Olivia Barnes she flights on up and Heath sends it straight down Griffith's throat in front of the Somerset she goes for 4 at 95 for 3 in the 13th and out comes Graham.  The 100 arrives with the 4th ball of the 14th from Lola.  The over ends at 106 for 3.

Erin V changes ends and brings her slow ball to the party and gets away with it for most of the 15th.  With 5 overs to go Durham need 43.  Chloe breaks through again bowling Graham looking to go back and missing it.  She goes for 13 at 115 for 4.  In comes the keeper Rogers with Armitage on 41. Skelton ends with 2 for 30 as Holland returns to the River.  Hollie Armitage reaches 50 from 35 at 127 for 4 and she is definitely the key to this game as we move towards the last 3 overs.  Durham need 26 from 18 at 130 for 4 as Barnes changes ends to bowl out at the MT and she finishes with 4 overs, 1 for 31 - with boundary off the last which might have done for the home side.

Vukusic bowls the penultimate one with 15 needed off 12 after Liv went for 11.  Erin seems to miss a run out as they come back for 2 and she misses the stumps with the ball in her hand.  The game moves on and Armitage puts the game away with a four to cow corner off the 5th of Erin's and she finishes with 4 overs 1 for 39 runs as Durhame break the 150 score at 152 for 4 needing 4 for the win off Niamh Holland.  The first is a single ad then there is a long conversation which results in a legside wide which goes for 4 and the games ends with DUrham on 158 for 4 with Armitage on 65 off 45 and Rogers on 12 from 8.  A 6 wicket win for the visitors.