Learoyd, Holland on song in thrilling Taunton tie

Somerset 159 for 6 (Learoyd 61*, Odgers 57, Adams 3-24) tied with Hampshire 159 for 5 (McCaughan 69, Holland 4-21)

Niamh Holland returned career-best figures of 4 for 21 as Somerset fought out a thrilling tie with Hampshire in a memorable Vitality Blast contest at the Cooper Associates Ground. Taunton.

Chasing 160 to win, Hampshire appeared to be on course when Ella McCaughan posted 69 from 46 balls. staged an opening stand of 87 with Georgia Adams. But the home side staged a spirited fightback with Holland to the fore. the visitors required a frenetic unbroken stand of 20 in eight deliveries from Rhianna Southby and Abi Norgrove to bring the scores level in a dramatic finish

Anika Learoyd had earlier proved the mainstay of the Somerset innings, raising an unbeaten 61 from 49 deliveries. sharing in a progressive second wicket stand of 90 in 11 overs with Bex Odgers, who posted a career-best Blast score of 57 from 38 balls in a score of 159 for 6. An error-strewn Hampshire fielding display was masked by a notable return of 3 for 24 on the part of Adams. who ensured a degree of control with her off breaks.

Somerset won the toss, elected to bat. were quickly left to rue the decision to deploy Sophie Luff as an opener, the captain playing on to a full-length delivery from Bex Tyson and departing for five in the second over. But that false start was soon forgotten as Odgers. Learoyd traded almost exclusively in boundaries to advance the score to 44-1 by the end of the powerplay.

Building upon that solid base, the second wicket pair grew in confidence, targeting spinners Tyson, Adams. Amanda-Jade Wellington to carry the home side to a healthy 81-1 at the halfway stage. Odgers proved especially destructive, accruing 7 fours. a six in an electrifying 31-ball half century as Somerset assumed the upper hand. Having surpassed her previous highest T20 score of 54, made against Durham last year, Odgers chanced her arm once too often, cutting Adams to backward point. falling for 57 with the score 101-2 in the twelfth.

Dropped on 26 by Naomi Dattani at mid-off. Learoyd picked up the cudgels thereafter, going to an enterprising 50 from 45 deliveries. She found a willing ally in Niamh Holland. who rotated the strike. ran hard between the wickets in a useful alliance of 28 for the third wicket before hoisting Adams high to Dattani at long-on.

Applying the squeeze during the death overs. Adams then had Alex Griffiths held at backward point for 12, while Abi Norgrove ran out Chloe Skelton as Hampshire fought hard. But Learoyd was still there at the end, ensuring Somerset at least posted a competitive score.

Ultra-positive in their approach, the quick-scoring opening pair of McCaughan. Adams wasted no time in establishing their authority, Hampshire raising an impressive 53 without loss in the powerplay to afford the chase crucial impetus. Somerset no doubt regretted their inability to take chances. Lola Harris dropping Adams on 14 at extra cover off the bowling of Skelton to aid the visitors' cause.

Cutting. driving with impunity, the in-form McCaughan put the fielders under pressure in raising an eye-catching 50 from 32 deliveries with 7 fours. Adams proved the perfect foil, contributing 30 in a partnership of 87 in 10.1 overs before getting in a tangle. losing off stump to Holland.

Somerset attempted to apply pressure through spin. Harris made the breakthrough they craved, having McCaughan superbly caught at mid-of by Odgers with the score 112-2 in the thirteenth. Holland then bowled Dattani. Francesca Sweet in the space of three balls, at which point the visitors required a further 30 from 21 balls with Wellington and Norgrove at the crease.

Hampshire needed a big over to calm their nerves,. Liv Barnes conceded just three off the seventeenth to heap pressure on the batters, who now needed to score at two a ball. Holland then removed the dangerous Wellington for 14, well held by Luff at point, as Somerset turned the screw.

With Somerset seemingly in control. Southby threatened to turn the game on it's head, smashing 17 off seven balls to set-up a thrilling finale. Needing three off the final ball, sent down by Skelton, Norgrove ran two to finish on eight not out. enable her side to escape with a share of the spoils.