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Second XI T20 Finals Day – SOMERSET CROWNED CHAMPIONS
It’s Second XI T20 Finals Day at Wormsley today.
THE FINAL
Somerset beat Yorkshire by 66 runs to win the final of the Second XI T20 competition and claim the title for the first time.
Somerset won the toss and elected to bat.
Yorkshire removed George Thomas in the second over for five when he was caught behind off Ben Cliff but Andy Umeed and Josh Thomas added 36 for the second wicket before the Scotland international was bowled by George Hill for 21 off 13 balls at 46 for two in the fifth over.
By the end of the six-over powerplay, Somerset were 57 for two.
Josh Thomas and James Rew shared a third wicket stand of 46 before the more senior batter feathered Dom Leech behind for 27 from 17 balls to leave Somerset on 92 for three in the 10th over.
Seven runs had been added to the total when Tom Lammonby tried to give himself room to dispatch Hill back over the seamer’s head but was bowled for six.
Thomas brought up his 50 from 25 balls, reaching the milestone with a big six off Leech as Somerset looked to accelerate, but the bowler got his revenge in rather fortunate circumstances when the Somerset opener was bowled two balls and two runs later by a full toss at 127 for five in the 13th over.
Fin Hill and Thomas Rew took Somerset past the 150-mark in the 15th over and advanced the score to 170 in the 18th but three wicket fell for the addition of just eight runs. Kasey Aldridge then made a rapid 10 but Somerset finished 191 all out after their allotted overs.
The Yorkshire chase got off to the worst possible start when Finlay Bean was bowled by Alfie Ogborne for 0 in the opening over. The White Rose County battled back from the early setback and the score had reached 52 in the sixth over when Yash Vagadia was caught by Umeed off the bowling of Kasey Aldridge for 27.
Ned Leonard then claimed two wickets in the 10th over to leave Yorkshire on 84 for five at the half way stage.
The Yorkshire 100 arrived in the 13th over but wickets continued to fall at regular intervals, and when Cliff was bowled by Leonard for two the score was 121 for nine in the 17th over.
Leonard then wrapped up the innings with the fifth ball of the 17th over to give Somerset the win! The seamer finished with four for 25.
SEMI FINAL ONE
Somerset claimed an impressive 76-run victory over Glamorgan in the first semi-final and will face either Yorkshire or Surrey in the final.
Setting their opponents a target of 191 for victory, Somerset dismissed the team from Sophia Gardens for 114 in 13.4 overs.
Glamorgan won the toss and elected to bowl.
The Thomas brothers, George and Josh opened the batting for Somerset but both fell early to leave Somerset on 22 for two in the third over. James Rew and Andy Umeed then began to rebuild the innings, taking their side to 50 in the off the final ball of the fifth over and by the end of the six-over powerplay the score was 64 for two.
The partnership was eventually worth 55 when Umeed was caught on the boundary for 39 from just 20 balls.
Rew and Tom Lammonby brought up the Somerset 100 in the 10th over before the latter fell for 12 at 103 for four. That soon became 109 for five when Rew attempted to reverse sweep and was caught for 38 from 25 balls. When Thomas Rew was bowled by Romano Franco Somerset were 118 for six in the 12th over.
Fin Hill and Kasey Aldridge brought up the Somerset 150 in the 16th over and their partnership for the seventh wicket totaled 61 when Hill was bowled by Joseph Davies for for 39 with the score on 179.
Aldridge remained unbeaten on 33 as Somerset finished on 190 for seven from their 20 overs.
Somerset made an early breakthrough when Eddie Byrom edged Alfie Ogborne to James Rew in the opening over with just four runs on the board. Sonny Baker then bowled Asa Tribe in the second over to leave the Welsh side on 10 for two.
Ogborne and Baker then both struck again to leave Glamorgan reeling at 22 for four in the fourth over.
Henry Hurle and Alex Horton then led the fightback, bringing up their 50 partnership for the fifth wicket from just 20 balls, and by the halfway point of the innings the scoreboard was showing 98 for four. The pair brought up the Glamorgan 100 in the 11th over, but the Thomas brothers accounted for Horton, who had advanced to 44 from 24 balls, George taking the diving catch on the boundary off the bowling of Josh.
101 for five then became 109 for six when Hurle fell for 37, picking out Ned Leonard at long-off to give Baker his third wicket, and when Tom Norton was trapped lbw by Josh Thomas for one the writing was on the wall at 110 for seven in the 13th over.
Quick runs were needed and Luke Pearson-Taylor looked to go big off Leonard but he could only pick out Lammonby at deep mid-wicket to leave his side on 114 for eight.
The last two Glamorgan wickets fell without further addition to the score as Somerset claimed a comprehensive win with 38 balls to spare. Baker was the pick of the attack, claiming three for 20 from three overs, whilst Ogborne, Josh Thomas and Leonard all claimed two wickets each.
PREVIEW
Somerset will face Glamorgan in the first semi final which will begin at 10:30am.
The second semi final begins at 1:45pm, with Surrey taking on Yorkshire.
The final is due to get underway at 5pm.
Entry to this fixture is free of charge.
HOW CAN I KEEP UP TO DATE?
You can keep up to date with the action via this website and also on our X feed.
TEAM NEWS
Somerset have named the following squad for Finals Day: James Rew, Andy Umeed, Tom Lammonby, George Thomas, Josh Thomas, Kasey Aldridge, Thomas Rew, Fin Hill, Alfie Ogborne, Ned Leonard, Sonny Baker and Joe Heywood.
VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM
Ahead of the game, Somerset Assistant & Feilding Coach, Paul Tweddle said: “To get to Finals Day is an amazing achievement. The second XI T20 campaign has been phenomenal, not just the results but the manner in which they’ve played their cricket. The opportunity that it’s presented the players to fulfil a number of roles has been superb. To have won as many games as they have puts them in a great position ahead of tomorrow.
“We’ll be going into the day feeling that we have the skills to go all the way and emulate the success of the First XI in T20 cricket. It’s a great opportunity for all of the players and it’s a big occasion, so hopefully the players can put their hands up and show that they can handle pressure situations.
“Glamorgan are a side that we know well and all of the teams at Wormsley have talented squads with players who will be looking to prove that they are worthy of First XI cricket.
“Wormsley is an amazing setting and a very fitting venue at which to host a day like this.”
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
Everything you need to know about the venue can be found at the Wormsley CC website below:
