Welsh Fire add Somerset seamer Lauren Filer to Women's Hundred squad

The 18-year-old is the fifth player to join the franchise, which will be coached by Australia boss Matthew Mott

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Somerset seamer Lauren Filer has become the fifth player to join The Hundred's Welsh Fire.

The 18-year-old is the first local player to announce her signing the team, which will play its home games in Bristol, Cardiff and Taunton when the tournament kicks off in July.

It had previously announced that Australia captain Meg Lanning and coach Matthew Mott would lead the side, which has also signed up international players Katie George, Jess Jonassen and Bryony Smith.

"It's fantastic to know we'll have young, local talent playing for Welsh Fire in The Hundred," Mott commented.

"Competitions like The Hundred and the WBBL in Australia can be massively beneficial to young players. Lauren will learn a lot from working with the likes of Meg Lanning and Jess Jonassen and I look forward to getting to know her better and seeing what she has to offer with the ball in hand."

Filer joins the squad after two seasons as a regular fixture in her county side, collecting 16 wickets in her 23 limited-overs appearances to date. Her team-leading figures of 2-15 during a five run win against Worcestershire during the final round of Women's Twenty20 Cup action helped Somerset pip Durham to the Division Two trophy.

Last month, Filer was one of 12 players named to an extended England Academy training squad for the next 12 months, with county teammates Natasha Wraith and Ellie Mitchell also set to feature in the programme.

^{Image: Somerset Cricket Board}

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