Tie at Edgbaston as Somerset, Durham & Lancs win

As the women’s domestic season’s revamped top flight began to take shape, Durham, Somerset, and Lancashire all claimed victories in the One-Day Cup.

In addition, after the Bears’ last-ball run out, Warwickshire and Hampshire were tied in a dramatic game at Edgbaston.

Surrey and Somerset had a second match that came down to the final delivery.

Due to the rain, Somerset chased a target of 238 for the win by seven wickets after both innings were reduced to 33 overs.

With 64, Heather Knight, who hasn’t batted in a while since being removed as England’s captain in March, led Somerset in the final over to win.

In Durham’s nine-wicket victory over Essex, New Zealand’s Suzie Bates recorded a 93 not out for the Blaze, while England’s Emma Lamb added a superb 130 not out to beat The Blaze by eight wickets.

The ECB has described it as “the next stage in the evolution of women’s cricket,” and the eight top-tier teams will compete in the One-Day Cup and T20 Blast.

With more than 10,000 runs scored for New Zealand, Bates is unquestionably one of the biggest names in women’s cricket.

And Durham chased down Essex’s 177 all out with ease as the 37-year-old showed off her class on her debut, scoring freely on both sides of the wicket.

With a score of 234 all out at Trent Bridge, Lancashire opener Lamb took the first to take a century in this season’s competition after taking three wickets.

Despite Scotland’s Kathryn Bryce scoring an innings for 70, Lamb’s 3-42 and 3-38 restricted the Blaze’s lead, 146-2, despite a strong innings from Lamb.

With only five overs to go, Lancashire chased down their target with Katie Mack (44) and Seren Smale (38 not out) providing excellent support for Lamb.

Rhianna Southby, the wicketkeeper, top scored with 72 in Birmingham, Hampshire, posted 208 in the state.

When Hampshire defeated Warwickshire to 189-9, still needing 20 to win, England pair Linsey Smith (4-39) and Lauren Bell (4-2-44) looked to have secured victory.

With one ball remaining, last-ball pairing Georgia Davis and Hannah Baker scored, but Davis was unable to hit the required single.

Surrey’s innings at Beckenham was delayed by the rain, but they did manage to post a score of 243-7 after 33 balls. With a 57-run, unbeaten effort, Alice Davidson-Richards was the star.

Although Knight and Emma Corney, age 21, initially had a run-rate of 122, the required run-rate increased after each pair went three overs.