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Win at Lancashire keeps hopes alive
An impressive bowling display set Somerset up for an entertaining five-wicket DLS victory against high-flying Lancashire at Emirates Old Trafford as they boosted their Metro Bank One-Day Cup semi-finals hopes.
Sixth-placed Somerset restricted their second-placed hosts to 169 for nine from 44 overs and chased a revised 164 from the same allocation inside 35 for a bonus point.
Ellie Anderson’s seam accounted for three wickets and Amanda-Jade Wellington’s leg-spin two before Niamh Holland and unbeaten Danielle Gibson contributed 44 apiece to help secure a fifth win in 11 games. Wellington also added a steadying 25 not out to cap her impressive day.
Inserted Lancashire had been put under early pressure at 69 for seven inside 24 overs before England seamer Kate Cross’s composed 51 off 58 balls led a fightback which ultimately failed to prevent a fourth defeat in 11.
This fixture was interrupted for just over an-hour-and-a-half by rain from 1.10pm onwards. The Red Rose made a disastrous start on an overcast and damp Manchester morning.
Anderson – three for 44 from 10 overs – did the early damage with three of the first four wickets, including Ireland overseas batter Gaby Lewis superbly caught low down at cover by Holland for a debut eight.
She also bowled Seren Smale and had Fi Morris caught at backward point following a sliced drive. The 21-year-old was bowling from the end named after her fellow Anderson, Sir James.
Somerset let a few catches go begging, but none were too damaging.
Australian Wellington’s spin then further tightened the screw.
She had Ailsa Lister caught behind and a sweeping home captain Ellie Threlkeld caught at short fine-leg, finishing with an excellent two for 19 from 10 overs.
But Cross and fellow England fast bowler Mahika Gaur calmly settled the ship with their side’s highest eighth-wicket partnership in List A cricket since the start of the professional era in 2020, including regional Thunder matches.
Gaur contributed a determined career best 20, while Cross was more expansive. She was particularly strong against spin in hitting nine fours.
It has been a bittersweet few weeks for Cross having been left out of England’s squad for the forthcoming World Cup before – on Sunday – winning the Hundred with the Northern Superchargers.
Just after Gaur miscued the left-arm spin of Olivia Barnes to cover – 141 for eight in the 39th over – the rain came.
Cross reached her fifty off 57 balls shortly after the resumption before heaving Mollie Robbins’ seam to deep midwicket. Robbins claimed the first and last wickets of the innings.
Somerset made a stress-free start to their chase, with Holland and Bex Odgers sharing 64 inside 14 overs for the first wicket.
The latter contributed 24 before falling lbw on the reverse sweep to the spin of Hannah Jones and that saw the visitors slip from 64 for none to 109 for five.
Holland was caught behind off the seam of Danni Collins – 82 for two in the 19th over – before Fran Wilson and captain Sophie Luff both fell cheaply. Cross bowled the latter.
But Gibson and Wellington steadied the ship and saw their side home by sharing 58 unbroken. Gibson hit four fours and a six in 36 balls.
In the semi-finals race, Somerset are three points behind fourth-placed Surrey with three games remaining. Lancashire, meanwhile, are five points clear of Durham in fifth.
Following the victory, Wellington said: “Really happy with that. Coming into this game, we knew we had to win all four to progress to the semi-finals. And what a win, and we got the bonus point.
“Personally, I’m really happy with where I’m at with my cricket at the moment. Putting in performances with both bat and ball is what I strive to do.
“Lancashire have some quality players. Kate Cross batted really well, Mahika Gaur with bat and ball as well. She played a really crucial innings.
“We did have the bonus point in the back of our minds. It’s always helpful. We felt that if we had a small over, we could always make it up, which we did. Myself and Dani at the crease together, we can both go hard and switch gear.
“Winning’s a habit, and that’s a great start to this block.”
