A 14th Somerset T20 half century for Sophie Luff could not prevent Somerset Women from slipping to a narrow two-wicket defeat against Surrey in the Vitality Blast at the Cooper Associates County Ground at Taunton on Sunday.

Chasing 149, Surrey reached their target with four balls to spare, their captain Bryony Smith scoring 63 from 51 deliveries with 10 fours.

After being put in Bex Odgers blasted a huge six on her way to a 22-ball 30 for Somerset in a powerplay that yielded 57.

Odgers was lbw but there was no respite as new batter Anika Learoyd hoisted Bethan Miles over the mid-wicket boundary as Somerset advanced to 85 for one at halfway.

Learoyd was out for a chip to Smith at cover, the Australian having contributed 19 in a stand of 33 with Luff for the second wicket.

Luff continued to profit, Somerset’s in-form captain finding the gaps with sufficient regularity before she was stumped for 52 off 39 balls as the inning closed on 148 for 6.

When Surrey replied 16-year-old Maddie Russell made an immediate impact, taking a wicket in her first over. With the score 91 for three the young pacer accounted for Monaghan, but the redoubtable Smith went to 50 from 40 balls with her eighth four to keep the reply on track.

When Smith was bowled by Holland, Surrey required just 16 more runs from 22 balls which they achieved with 4 balls to spare.

Young Maddie Russell ended with the impressive figures of 2 for 22 from her 3 overs.

Somerset Women are next in Vitality Blast action when they play Yorkshire away on Friday 3rd July.

It was a bad day for Somerset with the men losing away to Worcestershire Rapids in the Vitality Blast.