Anderson’s career‑best haul powers Somerset to three‑wicket win over Durham

Somerset 251 for 7 (Dean 76, Holland 70) edged Durham 248 for 9 (Marlow 71, Anderson 5-40) by three wickets.

Somerset won the toss and Anderson struck early, removing Mia Rogers, Hollie Armitage and Mady Villiers for 3 for 25 with a hostile new‑ball spell. Marlow and Danielle Collins then added 36 for the fourth wicket before Chloe Skelton caught Collins at point and Harris forced Bess Heath to loft the ball to mid‑wicket.

Somerset might have been in an even stronger position were it not for two costly moments. Marlow was put down on 27 by Holland on the square‑leg boundary off Dani Gibson’s bowling, and Thompson survived a close call when umpire Sue Redmond ruled she had not been run out by Dean.

Both batsmen capitalised on the reprieve, shifting the momentum decisively. With a high‑risk approach and occasional luck, they pushed the total to 163 before Harris induced Marlow to sky the ball to long‑off.

Larosa then unleashed a blistering attack, the South Australian striking six fours and a six in a rapid 44 off 31 balls. The Adelaide Strikers all‑rounder had added 41 in a 51‑run, 6.2‑over stand with Thompson before she edged onto the returning Anderson.

Sophie Luff ran out Thompson, and Anderson subsequently dismissed Katherine Fraser, becoming the first Somerset bowler to claim a List‑A five‑wicket haul since Nicole Harvey’s 5 for 22 against Surrey at Taunton in 2017.

Somerset’s openers Luff and Bex Odgers fell to Larosa and Lauren Filer respectively as Durham capitalised with the new ball. Katie Levick bowled Emma Corney for 22, and Villiers had Gibson caught at extra cover, with spin further denting the home side to 84 for 4.

Holland and Dean then consolidated, piercing the gaps, scampering between the wickets and punishing loose deliveries to post a 50‑run partnership in 48 balls. Holland reached a measured half‑century off 68 balls, while the more aggressive Dean needed 19 fewer deliveries to achieve the same milestone as the stand moved past three figures.

Holland’s 90‑ball knock ended when she lofted Fraser to mid‑wicket, and Filer dismissed Jess Hazell for 17 with the score at 217 for 6. Dean, however, stayed on to seal the result, the England captain finishing with six fours.