Defeat at Durham
Durham jumped off the foot of the Metro Bank One Day Cup table as six wickets from Katie Levick led them to a 120-run victory over Somerset.
Regular wickets plagued Durham during the early stages of their innings, despite a half-century from skipper Hollie Armitage. However, in the latter stages, Bess Heath and Mia Rogers smashed quick-fire fifties to take Durham to a total of 292 for eight.
Somerset’s chase failed to get going as Levick picked up six wickets to help her side bowl the visitors out for 172, with Niamh Holland’s 67 in vain.
Durham won the toss and elected to bat first, but their innings got off to a poor start, as stand-in opener Katherine Fraser was bowled by Alex Griffiths in the first over.
Armitage and Tahlia Wilson then saw Durham through the powerplay without further loss, but Wilson went two balls later as she was bowled by Holland.
Durham seemed to be building a nice platform through Armitage and Mady Villiers, but they lost Villiers as she was caught behind off the bowling of Chloe Skelton.
Armitage then passed fifty for the third time this season, but she lost another partner as Emily Windsor chipped a Lola Harris ball straight to cover.
Armitage then fell at the hands of Harris, as she chipped one to mid-wicket to leave Durham in a spot of bother at 164 for five.
Rogers and Heath provided some much-needed impetus into Durham’s innings, with the latter hitting the first six of the day over the legside boundary.
Heath then notched up her second fifty of the season from 33 balls, while Rogers was displaying her repertoire of reverse sweeps and ramps.
Heath was then caught in the deep, but Rogers continued her good work, passing fifty for the third time in List A cricket and helped Durham put 292 on the board.
Somerset’s chase of 293 got off to a tough start, as Bex Odgers chipped a Trudy Johnson ball towards Rogers at point, who produced a spectacular diving one-handed catch.
Katie Levick then bowled Anika Learoyd to put Durham on top, but Somerset skipper Sophie Luff joined Holland and started to tick the scoreboard over in pursuit of the target. However, Durham struck back as Fraser got the key wicket of Luff, who was stumped.
Holland continued to play nicely and passed fifty, but Levick picked up wickets in consecutive deliveries, bowling Jess Hazell and getting Katie Jones LBW.
Somerset then seemed to be heading towards defeat as Holland was dismissed for a well-made 67, as a leading edge off a Villiers delivery flew to backward point.
Skelton was then bowled by Johnson, while Levick bowled Griffiths to put Durham on the verge of a second consecutive win.
Levick then wrapped up the victory, dismissing both Bea Willis and Harris to hand her figures of six for 37.
At the close of play, Somerset Head Coach, Erin Osborne said: “I think we started really well in the first 20 overs. We missed a few key chances in the field which has probably been the story of our summer so far. I think at times our fielding let us down and our bowlers are probably being good, but not being good for long enough periods. I think that’s probably where we’ve let ourselves down.
“Niamh batted exceptionally well. I think it’s always difficult when you see wickets fall at the other end, and probably not getting the strike as much as she would have liked. I’m really happy for Niamh, I think she’s been working hard.
“I think we’re ready for that change to T20 cricket. We started really well in the 50-over stuff and let it slide the last few games, but we’re looking forward to the change of format. It’s an exciting one because we’re at home. We haven’t been at home for a little bit, so I’m looking forward to Friday.”
