Defeat for Somerset at Taunton Vale
Katie Jones, Anika Learoyd and Alex Griffiths all made half centuries but it wasn’t enough to prevent Somerset suffering a first defeat of the season in this year’s Metro Bank One Day Cup.
Jodi Grewcock scored her maiden professional hundred to propel Essex to a five-wicket victory at Taunton Vale Sports Club.
Arriving in the middle with the score 21 for three, the in-form left hander came to the rescue with a match-winning innings of 120 not out from 116 balls, adding 106 with Jo Gardner and an unbeaten 117 with Flo Miller for the fifth and sixth wickets respectively as Essex chased down a target of 269 with 12 deliveries to spare to win for the first time this season. Gardner posted a valuable 50 and Miller contributed 54 not out.
Griffiths bowled well for the hosts to claim three for 42 but couldn’t prevent her side from suffering their first reversal of the campaign.
Making her first senior appearance in 11 months, Jones top-scored with 79 from 89 balls, struck eight fours and a six, and shared stands of 73 and 76 with Learoyd and Griffiths, who weighed in with 56 and 50 not out respectively as Somerset posted 268 for nine.
Essex lost the toss, but probably felt more or less happy with their situation when reducing Somerset to 85 for four inside 19 overs. Sophie Munro removed opener Niamh Holland and spin made further inroads, former Western Storm all-rounder Sophia Smale pinning Bex Odgers lbw for 24 and then accounting for Jess Hazell in similar fashion, while Sophie Luff succumbed to Grewcock’s leg breaks as the home side struggled to build momentum.
Unfazed by events at the other end, overseas signing Learoyd appeared unflappable, going about her business in forthright manner, driving and cutting to good effect to spearhead a recovery. The Australian international found a willing ally in Jones, these two staging a restorative 50 partnership in 66 balls.
Eager to make her first substantial contribution since touching down earlier this month, the hard-hitting Learoyd posted her maiden Somerset 50 from 59 balls with eight fours. Not averse to taking risks, Jones straight drove Essex skipper Grace Scrivens for six on her way to an eye-catching 54-ball half century. Just as the fifth wicket pair looked set to assume complete control, Learoyd gave the returning Eva Gray the charge and was bowled with the score 158 for five in the 33rd over.
Jones thereafter assumed responsibility for hauling her side to a competitive total, carrying the fight to the Essex bowlers with a series of expansive strokes as she posted her highest score for Somerset.
Griffiths complemented her perfectly and the sixth wicket alliance yielded 76 runs in just 12 overs before Jones skied a catch to Jo Gardner at deep mid-wicket off the bowling of Munro.
Griffiths ensured there was no let-up at the death, raising a 48-ball 50 and helping herself to a quartet of boundaries as spirited Somerset attained respectability.
Beaten in their previous outings so far this season, Essex required the confidence boost of a good start to their reply. In the event, they lurched to 21 for three as Griffiths and Chloe Skelton made inroads with the new ball. Griffiths bowled Grace Scrivens and Ariana Dowse for single-figures scores, while Luff took a fine catch at extra cover to dismiss Cordelia Griffith off the bowling of Skelton as the home side exerted a stranglehold.
Ellie Anderson kept up the pressure on the visitors by ensnaring Smale lbw with the score 47 for four in the 14th, but Grewcock and Gardner batted sensibly to arrest the slide, defending stoutly and punishing anything short of a length to raise a 50 partnership via 47 deliveries and advance the score to an altogether healthier 110 for four at the halfway stage.
Growing in stature and driving with confidence, Grewcock went to 50 from 60 balls and the partnership to three figures from 110 deliveries as the fifth-wicket pair put their side back in contention. Gardner reached 50 from 60 balls with 8 fours, only for Griffiths to have her caught by Odgers at short fine leg in the act of pulling with the score 153 for five, leaving the visitors needing a further 116 from 17 overs.
Joined by the quick running Miller, Grewcock continued to score steadily, crafting a chanceless hundred from 105 deliveries to bring the required rate down to less than a run a ball for the first time. The perfect partner, Miller hit the ground running, raising 50 from 49 balls as Somerset eventually wilted under pressure. Grewcock’s match-winning innings was adorned by 10 fours and a six.
