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Disappointment for Somerset despite career best for Mollie
Somerset failed to build on their victory over Essex when they fell to a 22-run defeat against Bears in the Vitality Blast at the Cooper Associates County Ground despite career best figures for Mollie Robbins.
The Somerset seamer claimed four for 29 but the home side finished on 127 for nine in reply to the visitors 149 for eight.
It was a frustrating conclusion for the home side after a near perfect beginning.
After losing the toss and being invited to field, Somerset got off to the best possible start when they took a wicket with the opening ball of the match, Robbins trapping Meg Austin lbw with a beauty that nipped back in.
Not content with that, Robbins claimed her and Somerset’s second with the fifth ball of the match when Amu Surenkumar dragged on and had to depart for three. By the end of the first over the scoreboard was showing four for two.
Davina Perrin and Sterre Kalis added 38 from 25 balls but it was Robbins again who broke the partnership, forcing Perrin (20) to chip to Amanda Jade Wellington on the edge of the circle at 42 for three.
The last ball of the powerplay saw Kalis cut Robbins to the boundary to take the score to 51 for three.
By the halfway stage, Bears had advanced to 73 without further loss.
Kalis and Katie George brought up the 50-partnership for the fourth wicket from 47 balls, and a boundary off Wellington in the 14th over took Kalis to her 50 (from 38) and saw her side reach three figures.
The partnership was finally broken when Kalis fell for 51 courtesy of a sharp piece of work from Jess Hazell behind the stumps at 105 for four in the 15th.
Robbins was brought back into the attack to bowl the 16th over and she struck with her first ball to remove George for 28, Bex Odgers taking the catch at fine leg.
115 for five soon became 124 for six when Niamh Holland took a good catch on the run on the edge of the ring to remove Nat Wraith (4) to give Wellington a wicket.
Laura Harris raced to 29 from 13 balls but fell to Chloe Skelton when she picked out Fran Wilson at mid on at 141 for seven.
Erin Vukusic, who bowled nicely throughout, accounted for Millie Taylor with the final ball of the innings to claim the wicket that she deserved, Niamh Holland taking the catch.
Somerset lost Holland to the final ball of the opening over of the chase when she was bowled by Phoebe Brett with just one run on the board. Brett then claimed her second when Ruby Davis played on attempting a reverse sweep at 14 for two in the fourth over.
Odgers and Wilson picked up boundaries around the ground and got their side back up to the desired rate but with their partnership on 29 Hannah Baker took a stunning catch off her own bowling to remove Odgers for 21.
43 for three quickly became 44 for four when Wilson was run out by Surenkumar for 17 following a mix up with Wellington.
When Hazell (2) chipped Baker to Harris at 49 for five in the ninth over the home side were in danger of capitulating.
Alex Griffiths was next to go, bowled by Taylor, and at the halfway stage Somerset were 62 for six and in real trouble.
Wellington and Skelton gave Somerset a glimmer of hope with a stand of 35 but when the Australian was stumped for 33 from 25 Somerset’s hopes went with her.
51 runs were required from the final four overs and although the 100 arrived off the opening ball of the 17th, courtesy of a boundary from Robbins, the task was becoming too great.
Robbins was stumped for eight and as the Bears’ bowlers tightened the screw, 29 were needed off the final over. The hosts could only manage six, with Skelton run out off the final ball.
