Former England captain Heather Knight starred with her first county century in almost seven years as Somerset posted their highest-ever List A total against table-toppers Surrey.
Heather Knight hits 18th List A hundred as Somerset post a record 337 against Surrey
Having scored 64 in her last appearance for Somerset in their win over Lancashire last week, Knight went even better today (April 25) at Taunton. She came out to bat in the fourth over of the game, after Australian overseas player Maitlan Brown bowled Niamh Holland for 14.
Knight, who was sacked as England captain last year after a disastrous Ashes series, built the archetypal 50-over innings from No.3, scoring at roughly a run-a-ball throughout her innings to reach three figures. Second opener Rebecca Odgers was dismissed when Knight had only been in the middle for nine balls, before she and Somerset captain Sophie Luff put on a 130-run stand.
Luff was also dismissed by Brown, having reached a half-century, and Anika Learoyd was trapped lbw by Brown for 12. That left Somerset 181-4 and brought England all-rounder Dani Gibson to the crease. Gibson, who was a record-buy in the inaugural Hundred auction for £190,000 last month, piled on the runs to reach her half-century off 27 balls. She reached the milestone with a six of England teammate Alice Capsey, advancing down the pitch to launch her down the ground and over the rope.
In the following over, Knight reached three figures, with nine fours and two sixes in her innings. She was out in the next over, caught by Tilly Corteen-Coleman off Capsey. Gibsons didn't last much longer, but added four more boundaries in the next 17 balls before she was bowled by Dani Gregory.
Match 16, Somerset Women vs Surrey Women
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Somerset reached 337-9 in their innings, which is comfortably their highest-ever List A score. Knight's 103 was her 18th List A hundred, putting her in joint second with Tammy Beaumont on the list of the most centuries scored by English women in the format, behind only Charlotte Edwards.
Knight played six One Day Cup matches for Somerset last year in the first season of the new county set-up, but didn't pass 100 once. She last hit a domestic List A century in England when playing for Berkshire in 2019.
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