Anderson’s three wickets and Gibson’s unbeaten 44 guide Somerset past Lancashire in rain-hit clash

Somerset claimed a crucial five-wicket victory over Lancashire at Emirates Old Trafford to keep their Metro Bank Women’s One-Day Cup semi-final push on track.

Ellie Anderson’s incisive seam bowling and Dani Gibson’s composed, unbeaten 44 carried Somerset home via the DLS method in a rain-affected contest that also featured a gritty half-century from England’s Kate Cross.

The result leaves Somerset with five wins from eleven matches and just three points behind fourth-placed Surrey in the race for the knockouts. Lancashire remain second despite slipping to their fourth defeat of the campaign.

Inserted on a damp Manchester morning, Lancashire faltered badly against the new ball. Anderson removed three of the top four to leave the hosts reeling at 69 for seven inside 24 overs. She had Seren Smale bowled, Gaby Lewis brilliantly caught by Niamh Holland for just eight, and Fi Morris held at backward point after a miscued drive.

At 21 years old, Anderson showed composure beyond her years, returning figures of 3 for 44 from ten overs. Operating from the end named after her namesake James Anderson, she set the tone for Somerset’s disciplined attack.

Leg-spinner Amanda-Jade Wellington tightened the screw further, dismissing Ailsa Lister caught behind and captain Ellie Threlkeld for a sweeping miscue, finishing with an economical 2 for 19 from her full quota.

Lancashire were indebted to Cross, who rallied alongside Mahika Gaur in a record eighth-wicket stand. Gaur struck a career-best 20, while Cross compiled a fluent 51 from 58 balls with nine boundaries. Together they added 72 runs—their side’s best eighth-wicket partnership since the professional era began in 2020.

Cross’s innings, however, ended shortly after rain forced a 90-minute delay. She reached her half-century before top-edging Mollie Robbins to deep midwicket, the bowler claiming the first and last wickets of the innings as Lancashire were restricted to 169 for nine from 44 overs.

Set a revised 164 to win, Somerset began brightly through Holland and Bex Odgers, who added 64 inside 14 overs. Odgers contributed 24 before falling lbw attempting a reverse sweep against Hannah Jones.

Lancashire hit back with a flurry of wickets. Holland edged behind off Danni Collins for 44, Fran Wilson fell cheaply, and captain Sophie Luff was bowled by Cross. Somerset had slumped from 64 without loss to 109 for five, threatening to undo their early advantage.

But Gibson and Wellington calmly rebuilt, putting together an unbroken 58-run stand. Gibson played fluently, striking four boundaries and a six in her 44 not out from 36 balls. Wellington added 25 not out to cap her impressive all-round display.

Their partnership ensured Somerset crossed the line in the 35th over, securing not just the win but also a valuable bonus point to keep their semi-final ambitions alive.

Lancashire, though still well placed in second, were left ruing their top-order collapse despite Cross’s valiant half-century. For her, it capped a bittersweet week: omitted from England’s World Cup squad but lifting the Hundred trophy with Northern Superchargers days earlier.

As the tournament enters its final stretch, Somerset’s resurgence has injected fresh intrigue into the race for the knockouts, while Lancashire must rediscover consistency to hold their place in the top two