Women’s T20 Blast round-up: Surrey and The Blaze lose first

Somerset captain Sophie Loof continued her blistering form and scored a career-best 82 not out from 53 balls to lead Surrey to victory, sealed by a four in a row from Ruby Davies.

Luff’s brilliant innings, her third half-century in four matches, put Somerset out of trouble on 59-4 as they cruised to 154-6 despite pacer Alice Monaghan’s 3-24.

Earlier, left-arm spinner Olivia Barnes (3-21) reduced Surrey to 60-4 before Jemima Spence’s maiden T20 half-century, an unbeaten 51 from 35, led a recovery to 153-5.

In Nottingham, England all-rounder Villiers claimed 3-21 with his off spin before The Blaze were bowled out for 153, 47 from 34 balls before Durham cruised home with five balls to spare.

Villiers’ opening stand of 83 with captain Holly Armitage, who scored an unbeaten 50 off 47 balls, helped Durham to victory, with Bess Heath also in the running, scoring 36 off 18 balls.

Georgia Elwes top scored for The Blaze with 31 off 24 balls and skipper Mary Kelly 28 off 15 balls but 153 was always difficult to defend.

In Sunday’s other game, McLeod – who had already scored 59 against Warwickshire earlier in the competition, carried Essex’s chase against Lancashire to perfection – with partnerships of 40 and 66 with Grace Scrivens and Jodie Greycock respectively.

Scrivens had earlier claimed 3-23 as the headline bowling act as Lancashire Thunder were bowled out for 128.

Match report details are provided by the ECB Reporters Network.