Somerset Women produced a thrilling chase to edge Essex Women by 2 wickets with just one ball remaining in a high-scoring Women’s T20 Blast 2026 contest at Chelmsford. The match was packed with momentum swings, explosive batting, crucial partnerships, and impactful bowling spells, making it one of the most entertaining encounters of the competition.
After being put into bat, Essex Women made an aggressive start despite losing Anneke Bosch early for 18. Bosch had struck two fours and a six before Erin Vukusic claimed the breakthrough, leaving Essex at 43/1 in 5 overs. Captain Grace Scrivens then took complete control of the innings. She combined with Sophia Smale to add an outstanding 99-run partnership for the second wicket, shifting the momentum firmly in Essex’s favour. Smale played an excellent supporting role with 43 off 29 balls, smashing five boundaries, before she was dismissed by Vukusic at 142/2 in 15 overs.
Scrivens continued to anchor the innings brilliantly, bringing up a superb 73 from 51 deliveries, including 11 boundaries, before falling in the 16th over to Chloe Skelton, with Essex on 142/3. Although Liberty Heap departed for a first-ball duck, caught off Alex Griffiths, Essex kept the scoreboard moving through Joanne Gardner, who contributed 19 from 18 balls, sharing a valuable stand with Jodi Grewcock. Gardner was eventually dismissed by Vukusic at 174/5 in 19.4 overs. Grewcock remained unbeaten on 15 from 9 balls, while Bryony Gillgrass finished unbeaten on 1 as Essex closed on 177/5 in their 20 overs, setting Somerset a challenging target of 178.
Somerset’s bowling attack had mixed fortunes. Erin Vukusic was the standout performer, returning impressive figures of 3/31 from four overs, removing Bosch, Smale, and Gardner at key moments. Chloe Skelton claimed 2/28 in three overs, including the prized wicket of Scrivens. Alex Griffiths, Maddie Russell, Olivia Barnes, Niamh Holland, and Lola Harris bowled economically without taking additional wickets.
Chasing 178, Somerset endured a nightmare beginning when Rebecca Odgers was dismissed by Sophie Munro for a duck with just one run on the board. Sophie Luff struck two boundaries in her quick 8 off 8 balls, adding 15 runs for the second wicket with Anika Learoyd, before Munro struck again. Learoyd counter-attacked brilliantly with 35 from 23 balls, hitting seven boundaries, and alongside Niamh Holland stitched together a vital 32-run third-wicket partnership. However, Learoyd’s dismissal at 47/3 gave Essex renewed hope.
The game turned dramatically through Niamh Holland, who played one of the finest innings of the tournament. Holland kept Somerset in the contest while wickets continued to tumble around her. Alex Griffiths managed only 4 before becoming Grace Scrivens’ lone wicket, while Jess Hazell added 3 in a brief stand. Holland then found another useful partner in Chloe Skelton, with the pair putting together 32 runs for the sixth wicket, taking Somerset to 145/6. Although Skelton departed for 4, Holland refused to slow down.
Late in the chase, Essex struck repeatedly as Lola Harris (2) and Olivia Barnes (4) fell, reducing Somerset to 175/8 after 19.3 overs, still needing three runs from the final three deliveries. With nerves at their peak, Holland held her composure. Supported by Maddie Russell, who remained unbeaten on 1, Holland guided Somerset home in 19.5 overs, finishing unbeaten on a sensational 92 off just 52 balls, featuring 15 fours at a remarkable strike rate of 176.92. Her match-winning knock proved to be the decisive difference in an unforgettable chase.
Essex’s bowlers fought hard throughout the innings. Esmae MacGregor delivered the best spell, finishing with 4 wickets for 26 runs in 3.5 overs, dismissing Jess Hazell, Chloe Skelton, Lola Harris, and Olivia Barnes to keep the contest alive until the closing moments. Sophie Munro provided the perfect start with 2/32, while Eva Gray chipped in with 1/37. Captain Grace Scrivens claimed 1/33, and although Sophia Smale bowled economically without a wicket, Jodi Grewcock also remained wicketless in her lone over.
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