Women’s One-Day Cup: Tie at Edgbaston as Somerset, Durham & Lancs win

Durham, Somerset and Lancashire all won in the One-Day Cup as the revamped top flight of the women’s domestic season got under way.

Meanwhile a dramatic game at Edgbaston saw Warwickshire tie with Hampshire following a last-ball run out for the Bears.

Another match that went down to the final delivery was between Surrey and Somerset.

With both innings reduced to 33 overs because of rain, Somerset chased an adjusted target of 238 to win by seven wickets.

Heather Knight, batting for the first time since being removed as England captain in March, led the way for Somerset with 64 and they scored 18 off the final over to secure victory.

New Zealand opener Suzie Bates made an unbeaten 93 in Durham’s nine-wicket win over Essex, while England batter Emma Lamb scored a superb 130 not out as Lancashire chased down 235 to beat The Blaze by eight wickets.

The eight top-tier sides will contest the One-Day Cup and T20 Blast and the ECB has called it “the next stage in the evolution of women’s cricket”.

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

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

Captain Hollie Armitage provided fine support, making 64 not out, as the pair put on an unbroken 173 for the second wicket.