Surrey's Bryony Smith posts half-century to guide win

Bryony Smith posted a nerveless half-century to guide Surrey to a hard-earned two-wicket Vitality Blast win over Somerset at the Cooper Associates Ground, Taunton, writes Andrew Stockhausen, ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay.

Chasing 149 on a worn surface, Surrey reached their target with four balls to spare, their captain scoring 63 from 51 deliveries with 10 fours.

Leading run-scorer Sophie Luff had earlier raised 52 off 39 balls in a Somerset total of 148-7, only for overseas star Laura Harris to return figures of 3-16 as Surrey’s spinners successfully applied the squeeze.

Surrey skipper Smith won the toss and promptly dropped Bex Odgers off the bowling of Anna Buckle in the first over.

Somerset's hard-hitting opener cashed in, smiting Alice Monaghan for a huge six over mid-wicket on her way to a 22-ball 30 in a powerplay that yielded 57.

Laura Harris pinned Odgers lbw to afford Surrey respite, but it proved temporary, Anika Learoyd hoisting a delivery from Bethan Miles over the mid-wicket boundary as Somerset advanced to 85-1 at halfway.

Harris kept the Londoners in contention when inducing Learoyd to chip to Smith at cover, the Australian having contributed 19 in a stand of 33 with Luff for the second wicket.

Realising pace off was the way to go, Surrey exerted pressure during the middle overs and Miles bowled Niamh Holland with the score 103-3 in the fourteenth.

But Luff continued to profit, Somerset's in-form captain finding the gaps with sufficient regularity to raise her fifth Blast 50 of the season via 36 balls.

Dani Gregory had Alex Griffiths held at long-on and Luff gave the returning Harris the charge and was stumped as spin continued to militate against the home side.

Jess Hazell and Ruby Davis produced a late flurry, but Surrey's spin quartet of Harris, Miles, Gregory and Kalea Moore restricted Somerset to 63 runs from the last 10 overs.

Making an immediate impact on debut, 16-year-old Maddie Russell removed Paige Scholfield in her first over, the former England batter skying a catch to point after staging an opening stand of 30 with Smith.

Laura Harris quickly redressed the balance, smashing two sixes and a four in one Erin Vukusic over as the visitors mustered 10 boundaries in the powerplay.

Having raised 26 from 12 balls, the Australian chanced her arm once too often and hit straight to long-off as Liv Barnes struck an important blow for Somerset.

Jemima Spence swept a Lola Harris full toss to short fine leg with the score 91-3 and Russell accounted for Monaghan, but the redoubtable Smith went to 50 from 40 balls with her eighth four to keep the reply on track.

When Smith was bowled by Holland, Surrey required just 16 more runs from 22 balls.

Vukusic dismissed Aylish Cranstone and Moore and Miles succumbed to Holland, but Phoebe Franklin (19 not out) held her nerve to see the Londoners over the line.