SOMERSET Women’s Academy, established at the start of this year, have been in action and in a most recent game they played against their Yorkshire counterparts in a 50 over match at Worksop College.

Somerset won the toss and after electing to bat lost Rebecca Odgers early on before Lily Hawkins was joined by Ruby Davis who took the total onto 50 when Hawkins was out for 19.

Davis took her score onto 20 before she was dismissed making Somerset 67 for three in the 13th over when Jazz Westley joined Leila Moledina. The fourth wicket pair saw three figures on the board, but after adding 53 together Moledina was out for 19.

Katie Rowe added 32 with Westley for the sixth wicket before she was out for 18, after which wickets fell at regular intervals.

Westley remained out in the middle and brought up her half century off 65 balls with eight 4s ,before she was the ninth wicket to fall, bowled by Lee for 64 off 85 deliveries with the total on 199 and next ball Somerset were all out in 39.4 overs Maddie Russell ending not out 12.

When Yorkshire replied they reached 200 for seven in 35.2 overs, Beatrix Wills taking two for 31, and Izzy Patel two for 39.

The Somerset Academy’s next fixture is at Newport when they take on Glamorgan in a 50 over match after which they entertain the same opponents for two T20 games at Bridgwater CC on 1st July.

Meanwhile, Somerset County Cricket Club have become part of an initiative led by the charity SAFE South West which has seen the creation of special benches and signage to assist people with mental health issues by providing easy access and options which enables them to access a range of information and support.

SAFE South West is a community safety charity which works closely with the Emergency Services and are helping to build on the original concept which was initiated by a firefighter in Barnstaple which saw benches situated at high-risk locations.

The project has seen a number of benches placed in locations across the region where those needing a quiet space or who are in distress might go.

The mental health support benches have a plaque along the back with a QR code and URL (for access by those without a Smart phone) leading to a link tree with a range of information and organisations providing support. A number of these benches will now be situated at the Cooper Associates County Ground.

The message ‘Come Sit With Us’ is engraved along the back of the bench. One arm of the bench has a Samaritans plaque the other a plaque from SHOUT, a text-based organisation for those who do not wish to make a phone call.

Somerset CCC Operations Director Sarah Trunks added: “We are delighted to be working with SAFE South West on this project. It’s crucial that we do everything that we can to help ensure the wellbeing of all of our members and supporters, and mental health plays a huge role within that. This is an important initiative and one that we as a club are proud to be promoting.”

For further information or if you have an idea for a possible location for a bench or plaques, contact Steve Smith co-ordinator SAFE South West.