Wait for elusive first Blast victory goes on

Bess Heath demonstrated maturity aplenty to carry Durham to a four-wicket victory over Somerset in the Vitality Blast women’s competition at the Cooper Associates Ground, Taunton on Sunday.

- Andrew Stockhausen

Chasing 139 to win, the visitors were indebted to the 23-year-old middle-order batter, who scored 38 not out from 25 balls under pressure to help the visitors reach their target with 11 deliveries to spare. Suzie Bates top-scored with 49, while Somerset seamer Mollie Robbins returned figures of 3-22 in a losing cause.

Put into bat, Somerset were in good shape at 75-2, thanks to knocks of 36 and 31 from Bex Odgers and Niamh Holland respectively.

But Sophia Turner and Mady Villiers claimed two wickets apiece as Somerset lost their way during the middle overs, and it required a breezy 31 from Amanda-Jade Wellington to haul the cider county to a modest 138-7.

Durham have now won two of their six games in the short format, but Somerset remain without a victory and continue to prop up the table.