TAUNTON hosts three T20 matches this weekend, with Western Storm taking on Loughborough Lightning in the Kia Super League and Somerset facing Kent and Glamorgan in the NatWest T20 Blast.

All three games are being played at the Cooper Associates County Ground, kicking off with Western Storm v Loughborough Lightning today at noon.

Storm - who have England captain Heather Knight, and Somerset players Sophie Luff and Jodie Dibble, in their squad - hope to bounce back from a chastening defeat to Southern Vipers on Thursday.

Vipers skittled their opponents for 70 runs, and won by nine wickets at the Aegeas Bowl.

Storm were without England's World Cup final hero Anya Shrubsole for that match due to a side strain, and the Somerset bowler is also expected to miss today's match.

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FOLLOWING the women's match, Somerset return to their NatWest T20 Blast campaign following this week's County Championship draw with Surrey.

Somerset take on Kent today (4pm) and Glamorgan tomorrow (2.30pm) at the County Ground, with two wins likely to ensure they make the quarter-finals of the competition.

They currently lie second in the South Group table, and are boosted by the return of South African batsman Dean Elgar.

They are still without Pakistani batsman Fakhar Zaman, as he waits on a visa, and potentially James Hildreth - who picked up a quad muscle injury against Surrey.

Director of cricket Matthew Maynard said: “If we can win two of our last four group matches we will qualify, while three victories would mean a home quarter-final.

“Virtually every team in the group can still get through so every match is like a cup final from now on.

“It’s a tough weekend for us, but one we are really looking forward to.

"We have Dean Elgar back and we have tickets booked for a couple of flights should Fakhar Zaman’s visa come through.

“We have actually signed Fakhar more for Championship cricket.

"Under the rules of the NatWest Blast, he will need to play in at least one group match for us to be eligible for the knock-out stages.”

The hope is that Zaman may be able to play against Hampshire next Friday (August 18), which would allow him to play in the quarter-finals should Somerset get there.

You can follow all this weekend's T20 action with dedicated live blogs on somersetcountygazette.co.uk/sport