SOMERSET Women missed out on a place in the final of the Vitality T20 County Cup following a heart-breaking two run defeat to Surrey at Emirates Old Trafford.

In a weather shortened match due to rain, Bex Odgers top scored for Somerset with 29 but it was not enough to help her side supersede Surrey’s total of 62 for two.

After prolonged rain throughout the day in Manchester, the match was reduced to five overs per side with play finally getting underway at 6:15pm.

Somerset skipper Sophie Luff won the toss and elected to field. Ellie Anderson opened the bowling for Somerset from the end named after her illustrious namesake but Bryony Smith dispatched the opening ball over the mid-wicket boundary for a big maximum and 22 runs came from the first set of six.

The second over, bowled by Lola Harris, initially stemmed the tide as the first two balls only cost one run, but back to back boundaries from Smith saw the scoreboard continue to tick over.

Smith was then inexplicably run out for 25 from seven balls, and it was almost two wickets in two deliveries when Kira Chathli looked to go big after having a hand in her captain’s demise and only just evaded the outstretched arm of Chloe Skelton on the boundary.

Liv Barnes was given the third over and she accounted for Jemima Spence (0) courtesy of a stunning catch at mid on from Niamh Holland at 35 for two.

Harris kept things tight again and at the end of over number four the score was 45 for two. Seventeen runs came from the final over, sent down by Barnes, as Surrey set Somerset a victory total of 63.

Odgers smashed Kalea Moore’s opening two deliveries to the boundary but with the score on nine Luff top edged her first delivery and was caught by Dani Gregory.

Nine for one became nine for two when Heather Knight (0) was caught on the boundary by Alice Davidson-Richards off the last ball of the opening over. Odgers continued to do her best to keep her side up with the run rate as 16 runs came from over number two, delivered by Alice Monaghan.

Gregory was given the third over and her first delivery was sent into the 10th row of the stand by Odgers but the next ball saw the Somerset opener caught on the boundary, her runs coming from just 12 balls.

The next delivery, the last of the over, saw Holland caught by Chathli at cover for 0. Emma Corney raced to 11 from six before being caught on the rope off Moore at 42 for five in the fourth.

Nineteen runs were required off the final over for victory which was entrusted to Gregory. Ten runs came from the opening three deliveries courtesy of the bat of Alex Griffiths, but she was stumped off ball number four. Nine were needed from the final two deliveries.The penultimate ball was dispatched to the rope by Jess Hazell for a crucial four runs.

Five were needed from the final ball to reach the final and four needed for the draw. Only two were forthcoming as Somerset fell agonisingly short of their target.