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Metro Bank One Day Cup Preview: Somerset v The Blaze

THE MATCH

Somerset take on The Blaze in the Metro Bank One Day Cup at Exmouth CC tomorrow.

Play is due to get underway at 10:30am.

Gates will open at 9:30am.

Tickets for this match are available at a cost of just £10 for adults and £5 for juniors.

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Somerset are currently fourth in the Metro Bank One Day Cup table with 13 points from six matches whilst The Blaze are currently in first place with 23 points from the same number of fixtures.

SCHEDULED HOURS OF PLAY

10:30am – 2pm: Innings one
2pm – 2:30pm: Interval
2:30pm – 6pm Innings two

Important Information

Somerset Men’s Membership cards will not grant you access to the venue for this fixture.

A limited amount of parking will be provided by Exmouth CC. There will be a charge for this.

Spectators can bring their own chairs.

Dogs will be permitted into the ground, but they must be kept on a lead.

HOW CAN I KEEP UP TO DATE?

A live stream of the match will be available via this website and on our YouTube channel. Viewers are reminded that this fixture is being held at an outground and therefore the streaming infrastructure is less advanced than we are able to provide for fixtures at the Cooper Associates County Ground or at Taunton Vale Sports Club.

You can also keep up to date via our social media channels.

In addition to this, a report on the day’s play along with quotes will be posted on this website.

THE OPPOSITION

Captain: Kirstie Gordon
Head Coach: Craig Cumming
2025 finish: 2nd
2025 highest run-scorer: Kathryn Bryce (632)
2025 highest wicket-taker: Kathryn Bryce and Grace Ballinger (18)

Winter moves: Ireland international all-rounder Orla Prendergast, back for a third spell, will play in April and May and at the backend, with Australian all-rounder Charli Knott available for the three Metro Bank One-Day Cup Women fixtures that coincide with the T20 World Cup. England leg-spinner Sarah Glenn has moved to Yorkshire, with all-rounder Emma Jones joining from Surrey.

The big question: Given the wealth of talent in their squad, The Blaze underachieved in 2025, reaching three semi-finals but losing them all. With the benefit of a full pre-season under Kiwi coach Craig Cumming, they are confident of putting that right this year and, with the World Cup likely to deplete their ranks heavily in mid-summer, the One Day Cup might be their best chance of success. Can they hit the ground running?

Player to watch: Cassidy McCarthy’s T20 form has earned her a £65,000 deal with Sunrisers Leeds in The Hundred this summer but she also impressed in the One Day Cup last season with 11 wickets in eight appearances. The 23-year-old right-arm seamer, selected for the England Women Performance Programme over the winter, could make an even bigger impact in this year’s competition.

Final thought: Called the Blaze since 2023, having previously evolved from Loughborough Lightning to Lightning, the Trent Bridge-based team will undergo another rebrand in 2027, coming into line with the rest of the professional women’s teams by adopting a county identity. If they can conjure some success in their final season, going out in a Blaze of glory will be a headline that is hard to resist.

TEAM NEWS

Somerset will be without Heather Knight, Charlie Dean and Dani Gibson (international duty). Mollie Robbins is unavailable and Emma Corney is still absent as she recovers from her knee injury.

Captain, Sophie Luff returns to the squad following concussion and she is joined by Academy all rounder Jasmine Westley who has signed a short-term contract.

Somerset have named the following squad for this fixture:

VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Ahead of the match, Somerset Head Coach, Erin Osborne said: “It was a case of the same story against Hampshire. We’re getting half the game right at the moment. I’m really pleased with how batting’s going, we’ve just got to clean up a few areas with the ball and in the field as well. There are a lot of positives with lots of contributions. We’ve had nine people now that have scored a 50 this year, which is huge for us.

“I’m really pleased with how we’re going. There are lots of people contributing and we’re seeing big numbers from people playing different roles. For example, Alex Griffiths has taken 14 wickets already for the season. Chloe Skelton has been fantastic, and Lola Harris is really finding her way as well. So, there are plenty of positives that we’re taking away from these games and we’re hoping to put a complete game together tomorrow at Exmouth.

“Any opportunity we get to take the game across the region and provide an opportunity for neighbouring counties to see what we’re all about is always a positive and hopefully we can help to inspire the next generation across the South West.

“I thought Niamh did really well managing the team in Hampshire, but it’s always nice to get Luffy back. She’s an experienced player who obviously offers a lot with the bat as well.

“The Blaze are a quality team. Tammy Beaumont is world-class and then there’s Georgia Elwiss and the Bryce sisters as well. You can certainly name a few, so they’re a quality outfit and we know we’re going to have to play well to get a result.”

NEXT MATCH

Somerset are next in action in the Metro Bank One Day Cup when we take on Durham at Banks Homes Riverside on Saturday May 16th.

Tickets for this match are available now.

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