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50 for Jess but Bates steals the show
A batting masterclass from Durhams’s Suzie Bates condemned Somerset to defeat in this Metro Bank One Day Cup match at The Cooper Associates County Ground.
Bates lit up the venue with a superb display that demonstrated both power and subtlety and in doing so amassed 163 as Durham posted 315 for nine from their 50 overs. Her runs came from just 140 balls with 18 fours and three sixes.
Despite a number of spirited performances, including a half century for Jess Hazell, Somerset were dismissed for 210 as the visitors secured the win by 105 runs.
After winning the toss, Durham elected to bat first.
Emma Marlow and Bates had to battle some tight bowling from Mollie Robbins and Ellie Anderson who restricted Durham to just three boundaries in the first five overs.
Indeed, Robbins got the reward for her impeccable line and length with the final ball of the fifth over when a slower delivery caused Marlow (16) to pick out Fran Wilson at point with the scoreboard showing 22.
The Durham 50 arrived after 10 overs, and Bates, having weathered the early storm, began to play with greater freedom and brought up the 50 partnership with Hollie Armitage from just 56 balls.
The home side employed spin at both ends, but Bates’ own half century arrived from 64 balls courtesy of a lofted four off Chloe Skelton.
Skelton gained revenge with the final ball of the same over when she bowled Armitage for 21 to break the 71-run second wicket stand at 93 for two.
The Durham 100 arrived after the 22nd over but only two further runs had been added to the total when Mady Villiers played across the line to Olivia Barnes and was stumped by Jess Hazell for three.
Emily Windsor (4) was then bowled by Skelton off the final ball of the 24th over to leave Durham on 107 for four as the home side battled back well.
Bates and Bess Heath dug in and put their side back on top, taking their side to 150 in the 30th over before bringing up the 50 partnership for the fifth wicket from only 39 deliveries.
The partnership was worth 66 when Laura forced Heath to chop on for 31 at 173 for five in the 34th over.
Bates went to three figures from 113 deliveries and the Durham 200 appeared on the board in the 40th over.
The New Zealand opener shared another half century stand, this time with Phoebe Turner before the latter was caught on the boundary by Alex Griffiths off the bowling of Anderson for 25 at 251 for six.
Bates continued to demonstrate her class and her 150 came from 137 balls. Her superb innings finally came to an end when she reverse swept Jackson straight to Anderson. By that point she had scored 163, and in doing so had put her side in a commanding position.
Katherine Fraser and Sophia Turner fell late on, but in truth the damaged had been done by then.
The Somerset replay started positively with Bex Odgers and Niamh Holland racing to 20 without loss from two overs.
There was drama in the third over when Lizzie Scott was withdrawn from the attack by the umpires after her second high full toss. Scott’s day then got worse when she dropped Odgers at mid off with the Somerset batter on 15 off the second delivery of the fourth over.
However, Durham didn’t have to wait much longer for the breakthrough which came three balls later when Holland (10) edged Phoebe Turner behind with the score on 33.
Odgers and Sophie Luff added 42 for the second wicket before the Somerset skipper fell lbw to Villiers at 75 for two in the 17th overs.
Odgers looked in fine touch and seemed to be Somerset’s main hope. She went to 47 with a glorious cover drive but was yorked by Phoebe Turner off the very next delivery.
87 for three became 88 for four when Fran Wilson carved Turner straight to Fraser at backward point in the same over.
Hazell and Griffiths added 20 for the fifth wicket before the latter got the finest of edges to one from Fraser and was caught behind for nine.
That brought Jackson to the crease and she looked to attack. She batted positively and shared a half century stand with Hazell. The stand for the sixth wicket was worth 53 when Jackson eventually fell for 29, stumped by Heath off the bowling of Levick with the scoreboard showing 161 in the 34th over.
Hazell demonstrated a fine array of shots and reached her second 50 of the season from 54 balls but was caught on the boundary by Villiers attempting to slog sweep Levick at 194 for seven. Skelton (15) then fell to the same combination for the addition of a further nine runs to the Somerset total.
Heath stumped Anderson off Villiers and Barnes was bowled by the next delivery as Somerset were dismissed for 210 with 9.8 overs remaining.
