Levick’s Six-Wicket Haul Fires Durham to 120-Run Victory Over Somerset
Durham Surge Off the Bottom with Dominant Win Over Somerset
In a performance defined by composure and crushing bowling, Durham climbed off the foot of the Metro Bank One Day Cup table with a resounding 120-run victory against Somerset, powered by a career-best six-wicket haul from Katie Levick.
Durham Build Steady Foundation Before Late Flourish
Winning the toss and opting to bat first, Durham’s innings began shakily as stand-in opener Katherine Fraser was dismissed in the first over, bowled by Alex Griffiths. However, captain Hollie Armitage anchored the early phase alongside Tahlia Wilson, guiding the team through the powerplay unscathed.
Wilson’s departure in the following over signaled the start of a middle-order wobble. Mady Villiers was caught behind off Chloe Skelton, and Emily Windsor fell to a soft dismissal—chipping a delivery from Lola Harris straight to cover. Armitage, though, remained resolute, bringing up her third half-century of the season before she too fell to Harris, caught at mid-wicket for 58, leaving Durham at 164 for five.
Rogers and Heath Ignite the Death Overs
Just when momentum threatened to stall, Bess Heath and Mia Rogers launched a late assault on the Somerset bowling. Heath hammered the first six of the innings over the leg side and raced to her second fifty of the season in just 33 balls. Rogers matched her aggression, employing an array of reverse sweeps and ramp shots to keep the scoreboard moving.
Heath was eventually caught in the deep, but Rogers continued, notching her third List A half-century. Their partnership turned a stable platform into a formidable total, guiding Durham to 292 for eight in their 50 overs—Armitage (58), Rogers (56), and Heath (51) all contributing crucial half-centuries.
Levick Tears Through Somerset’s Lineup
Somerset’s chase of 293 never gained momentum, and Levick was the chief disruptor. The Durham bowler struck early, removing Anika Learoyd, and after Bex Odgers was caught in a stunning one-handed diving effort by Rogers off Trudy Johnson, Somerset was already reeling.
Sophie Luff and Niamh Holland began to steady the innings, rotating strike and avoiding collapse. But Katherine Fraser turned the tide with the crucial stumping of Luff, leaving Holland to fight solo. She did so with determination, bringing up a composed 67—the top score of the innings—before mistiming a shot off Villiers and being caught at backward point.
With Holland gone, Levick pounced. She bowled Jess Hazell and trapped Katie Jones LBW in consecutive deliveries, dismantling the middle order. Skelton was clean bowled by Johnson, Griffiths was dismissed by Levick, and the left-armer completed her dominance by removing Bea Willis and Harris in quick succession.
Her final figures of 6 for 37 were not just match-defining but possibly season-defining—a career-best performance that wrapped up Somerset for just 172 in 41.4 overs.
Durham on the Rise
This victory marks Durham’s second consecutive win, lifting them off the bottom of the table and injecting much-needed confidence into the campaign. While the batting relied on late fireworks, it was the disciplined, aggressive bowling—led by Levick’s heroics—that sealed the deal.
For Somerset, Holland’s 67 stood out, but the rest of the batting order failed to fire, and the bowling couldn’t staunch the flow in the closing overs.
Durham will look to build on this momentum, and if Levick maintains this form, they could quickly become a team to watch in the One Day Cup.
