The 72nd match of the ECB Women’s One-Day Cup 2026 at The Oval delivered an absolute thriller, as Surrey Women pulled off a heart-stopping 1-wicket victory over Somerset Women with just three balls remaining in a dramatic high-scoring chase.
Batting first, Somerset constructed a formidable total thanks to two brilliant centuries that anchored the innings. Bex Odgers (19) provided early intent alongside skipper Sophie Luff, forming a 24-run opening stand before Sune Luus made the initial breakthrough by clean-bowling Odgers in the 6th over. Alice Monaghan then removed Emma Corney (7) at 45/2, bringing Niamh Holland to the crease to join Luff.
What followed was a towering 196-run third-wicket partnership that dominated the contest. Luff struck a glorious 108 off 119 balls (11 fours), while Holland crafted an unbeaten masterclass of 130 off 128 deliveries, featuring 14 fours and a six. Monaghan eventually broke the monster stand in the 45th over by having Luff caught by Sophia Dunkley with the score at 241/3. Danielle Gregory quickly struck next, catching Alex Griffiths (6) off her own bowling at 248/4. Ryana MacDonald-Gay got in on the action by removing Jess Hazell (2) at 262/5, and Kalea Moore had keeper Katie Jones caught by Luus for a duck at 263/6.
A quick run-out by Phoebe Franklin sent Chloe Skelton packing for 7 at 285/7, while Ellie Anderson ended non-striker on 0*. Backed by 16 extras, Somerset closed their 50 overs at 295/7. Surrey’s attack worked tirelessly, led by Monaghan (2/54 in 10), with Luus (1/39), Gregory (1/41), MacDonald-Gay (1/54), and Moore (1/58) each grabbing a wicket alongside Kate Coppack’s tight spell of 0/48.
Chasing a daunting target of 296, Surrey got off to a quick start before Alex Griffiths generated the opening breakthrough, bowling Dunkley for 17 off 12 balls at 30/1. Olivia Barnes trapped Rachel King lbw for 21 at 61/2, bringing Alice Monaghan (28) and Sune Luus together for a 40-run third-wicket stand. Lola Harris dismissed Monaghan at 101/3, but Luus accelerated with a fiery 54 off 52 balls (6 fours, 1 six). Griffiths returned to devastating effect, trapping Alice Davidson-Richards (13) and then getting Luus caught by Jones in successive overs to leave Surrey at 142/5.
Captain Kira Chathli and Phoebe Franklin then staged a magnificent comeback, combining for a match-defining 95-run sixth-wicket partnership. Chathli struck a resilient 51 off 57 balls before Chloe Skelton had her caught by Odgers at 237/6. Skelton trapped Ryana MacDonald-Gay (5) lbw shortly after at 243/7, but Franklin kept fighting with a crucial 46 off 49 balls. Griffiths struck again to dismiss Franklin at 257/8, completing her magnificent five-wicket haul. With 39 runs still required, Kalea Moore swung momentum with a vital 23 off 21 balls before becoming Griffiths’ fifth victim lbw at 289/9.
With 7 runs still needed and one wicket in hand, Kate Coppack held her nerve brilliantly, scoring an unbeaten 16 off 13 balls alongside Danielle Gregory (0* off 2 balls). The duo safely steered Surrey over the finish line to reach 296/9 in 49.3 overs. Griffiths ended as the star bowler with figures of 5/54, supported by Skelton (2/61), Barnes (1/55), and Harris (1/53), alongside contributions from Ellie Anderson (0/53) and Niamh Holland (0/14), in a classic ECB Women’s One-Day Cup encounter.
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