Surrey beat Somerset by two runs to secure their place in the Vitality T20 County Cup Final.
Surrey held off a thrilling Somerset run chase to reach the final of the Vitality T20 Women’s County Cup for the second consecutive year.
Captain Bryony Smith laid the foundation of a commanding total in a match that was reduced to five overs per side after a lengthy rain delay to Finals Day, then spinners Kalia Moore and Dani Gregory shared six wickets.
They were supported by a faultless fielding performance including a sharp stumping from Jemima Spence, in contrast to Somerset who fluffed four chances in as many overs – leaving their batters with just too much to do, despite some terrific hitting right down the order.
Surrey, who lost to Lancashire in last year’s inaugural final, therefore booked the chance to make amends against a Blaze team who had beaten Essex in the first semi.
Finals Day seemed to be heading for a complete washout as heavy drizzle fell constantly, with the indoor school at Emirates Old Trafford prepared for bowl-outs – although under regulations introduced in 2024, they would only be permitted for semi finals and not the final.
But the umpires and groundstaff pounced at the first sight of a break in the rain, and agreed on a 450pm start for the first semi final – with each of the semi finals reduced to five overs per side to leave as much time as possible for the final.
Somerset won the toss and chose to field, but Smith was at her brutal best as she smashed three fours and two sixes – although she was the beneficiary of Somerset’s first, simplest and most costly drop.
After she was run out by a tidy piece of fielding from Liv Barnes at backward point, Barnes then had Spence brilliantly caught by Niamh Holland for a duck.
But Kira Chathli, who also had an early life, batted through the innings for 19 from 10 balls and Alice Monaghan added 18 from 11.
Bex Odgers hit the first two balls of Somerset’s reply for four, and maintained the momentum despite the loss of Sophie Duff and Heather Knight for ducks later in the first over.
Odgers holed out to deep mid wicket after making 29 from 12 balls, but Emma Corney and Alex Griffiths kept blazing for Somerset – with their chances remaining live until they could only take two rather than four off the last ball of the innings.
Moore ended with three for 21, and Gregory three for 23.
