First win for Somerset Women a 'long time coming'

Niamh Holland (left) stepped in to captain Somerset with Sophie Luff out injured

Somerset all-rounder Niamh Holland said victory had been a "long time coming" as the club ended a nine-game T20 Blast winless streak.

Somerset beat Essex by four wickets to win their first match since the tournament began on 30 May.

All-rounder Holland was wearing the skipper's armband for the first time with captain Sophie Luff out with a calf strain.

"It feels great to finally get it over the line, it feels like it's been a long time coming," she told BBC Radio Somerset.

"I feel like we've had a lot of these games where we've been so tight, but I'm glad that people stood up and got us over the line."

Somerset had been close to victory previously this campaign before falling in the closing stages however Holland praised her team-mates' resolve to see a match out for the first time.

Australian international Amanda-Jade Wellington made 29 from 23 balls and shared in a stand of 45 for the fourth wicket with Fran Wilson.

Wellington and Alex Griffiths needed 16 runs off the final 17 balls and held on to clinch the win as they successfully reached the winning target of 156 with three balls to spare.

While the club remain bottom of the T20 Blast table with six points, Holland said she hoped the elusive first win would kick-start their campaign.

"That's what we struggled with is someone to finish it off and we've finally done it which is great," Holland said.

"I think it's really important that we take this momentum.

"It might not feel like that all the time with all the results but we've been picking small things up each game to try and almost piece them together and it feels like we've got there [on Tuesday] which is brilliant."