ECB Women's County Championship Division 2

Somerset 269-6 beat Durham 103 by 166 runs

SOMERSET Women bounced back from a defeat in their season opener to crush Durham by 166 runs at Taunton Vale on Bank Holiday Monday.

On the inaugural 'Women's County Cricket Day', Somerset batted first and saw openers Emma Godman and Nicole Richards add 100 for the first wicket.

Godman was first to fall, caught for 33 with the score on 108, but a brisk 23 from captain Sophie Luff kept the scoreboard moving.

New signing Nat Wraith blasted 53 from 38 balls before being run out, while Richards batted through the innings but ended agonisingly short of a century, finishing unbeaten on 99 from 135 balls with 11 fours.

Richards' knock had helped Somerset to an imposing 269-6 from their 50 overs and the bowlers quickly got to work in reply, removing both Durham openers by the time the score had reached 15.

Wickets continued to tumble and, from 53-7, the writing was on the wall for the visitors.

The wickets were shared around - Lorraine Szczepanski took 2-12 from 10 overs, Georgia Tulip 2-14 from five, Tilly Bond 2-18 from three and Cassie Coombes 1-8 from four - before star of the day Richards mopped up the tail with 3-7 from 5.5 overs as Durham were bowled out for 103.

Somerset return to action at Berkshire - the new home of former Somerset star Anya Shrubsole - this Sunday.