AFTER all the excitement and preparation, Somerset County Cricket Club women’s team finally got their season started and in some style, claiming victory by taking 32 runs off the final 13 balls of the match.

Not only did they win but they won away from home against Surrey Women at Beckenham in a match they would certainly have started as underdogs.

All eyes were focussed on Somerset and they certainly didn’t let the county down. Against a strong Surrey side consisting of a number of current internationals in a rain affected match that was reduced to 33 overs a side Sophie Luff, the Somerset captain, won the toss and invited the home side to bat first.

Surrey made a good start and had reached 62 for one when Aussie all rounder Amanda-Jade Wellington came into the attack. In each of her first three overs the leg spinner took a wicket to make Surrey 86 for four in the 13th over.

The later batters rallied to take the hosts onto 243 for seven when the innings closed after 33 overs.

Chasing a revised total of 241 (DLS) Somerset looked to be in the box seat thanks to an opening stand of 122 between Heather Knight, who made 64 and Emma Corney, who hit 64.

Surrey played their way back into the game which as it went on looked to be going in favour of the home side.

However with Somerset all but out of it Amanda-Jade Wellington hit four successive fours to leave the visitors needing 15 off the last over and with the scores level Fran Wilson drove Alice Davidson-Richards’ final ball through mid-wicket.

On Sunday the jubilant Somerset Women returned to Taunton to play their first ever home game against Lancashire. This was a history making moment and cricket followers of all ages and stages turned out to witness the occasion.

Before the gates opened the queues outside St James Street stretched almost back to the church, such was the interest in the game.

When play got underway at 10.30am Lancashire won the toss and put the home side in first. On a greenish looking wicket Somerset were soon losing wickets, with only opener Emma Corney offering much resistance and when she went for a patient 35 made off 79 balls the hosts looked in deep trouble at 89 for six in the 32nd over,

However, once against Wellington was at hand to wield the bat, making 26 off 20 balls, and adding 56 with Alex Griffiths before she was out with the total on 145 for seven.

Griffiths took her total onto 46 from 58 balls before she was out with the total on 159, after which Chloe Skelton, who ended unbeaten on 24, and Laura Jackson not out 13, remained to see Somerset post 205 for nine.

When Lancashire batted in front of a crowd of over 1200 the opening batters rarely seemed to be troubled until Wellington came into the attack and claimed opener Emma Lamb LBW for 52.

Wellington then caught the other opener Eve Jones for 97 off the bowling of Ellie Anderson with the total on 164.

Charlie Dean had Katie Mack stumped by ‘keeper Katie Jones , making the total 170 for three but there was no further joy for the hosts as Lancashire reached 207 for three in 36.5 overs.