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Vitality Blast Quarter-Final Preview: Northants Steelbacks v Somerset
THE MATCH
Somerset take on Northamptonshire Steelbacks at the County Ground, Northampton in the Vitality Blast quarter-final tomorrow (Thursday September 5th).
Play is due to start at 6:30pm.
This match has sold out.
HOW CAN I KEEP UP TO DATE?
You can keep up to date with a live blog via our dedicated Match Centre and also on our X feed.
This match will be televised on Sky Sports.
In addition to this, a report on the day’s play along with quotes will be posted on this website.
THE OPPOSITION
Captain: David Willey
Finals Day appearances: 4 (2009, 2013, 2015, 2016)
Titles: Two (2013, 2016)
2024 finish: Second (North Group)
2024 leading run-scorer: Matthew Breetzke (460)
2024 leading wicket-taker: David Willey (15)
TEAM NEWS
Riley Meredith is unavailable due to international commitments but Will Smeed returns from injury.
Somerset have named the following squad for the fixture: Lewis Gregory, Will Smeed, Tom Banton, Tom Kohler Cadmore, Tom Abell, Sean Dickson, Lewis Goldsworthy, Tom Lammonby, Ben Green, Craig Overton, Kasey Aldridge, Roelof van der Merwe, Josh Davey, Jack Leach and Jake Ball.
VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM
Ahead of the match, Somerset Head Coach, Jason Kerr said: “Everyone’s excited because we’re playing some really good cricket at the moment. Momentum in sport is huge and the way we performed for four days against Durham gives us a really good platform going in to Thursday’s game.
“We pride ourselves on putting the team in positions where we can win trophies. To get to another Finals Day would be a fantastic achievement, but our focus is solely on this game against Northants. It’s important that we don’t get too far ahead of ourselves.
“Northants played some exciting cricket in the group stages and we know that they are a dangerous team with talent players from one to 11. We will respect them but we’re determined to bring our A Game on Thursday.”
TRADE NATION STATS
Somerset have a great record in T20 Blast QFs (P10, W8, L2), winning their last four. The
last QF defeat was in 2017 against Nottinghamshire.
Will Smeed has scored 81.3% of his runs in this year’s tournament from boundaries – 200
out of 246 – 26 4s, 16 6s. Of batters to have faced more than 10 balls he has the highest
boundary percentage of 32.06%.
Somerset’s pacers have taken 74 wickets in this year’s Blast, the second most successful
pace attack – after Gloucestershire (81 wickets). The pacers have bowled 86.5% overs with
pace this tournament – the most of any county.
CLASSIC MATCH
The two sides met at Taunton in 2020 and it was an encounter that saw Somerset come out on top by seven wickets with two overs to spare.
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
You can find out everything that you need to know about attending the game via the Official Northamptonshire Website.
NEXT MATCH
Our next match begins on Monday September 9th when we take on Surrey in the Vitality County Championship.
Tickets for this top of the table clash are available now!
