Somerset fall at semi-final stage
Somerset’s hopes of becoming the first team to retain the Vitality Blast were ended at the semi-final stage as Northants Steelbacks secured a place in the final courtesy of a 17-run victory at Edgbaston.
An incredible run of back to back wins had seen the holders qualify for the knock out stage against the odds, and Wednesday’s quarter-final win over Yorkshire was the stuff of cricket legend. However, it wasn’t to be today, despite Somerset-best T20 figures from Jake Ball and a typically destructive innings from Will Smeed.
Lewis Gregory won the toss and elected to bowl first.
With the score on 15 in the second over, Ricardo Vasconcelos looked to give himself room and ramp Riley Meredith. The Somerset faithful in the Hollies Stand thought he had miscued a catch straight to Tom Kohler-Cadmore, but Meredith was convinced that the ball had hit the Steelbacks’ openers pad. The umpires were unmoved, but the Somerset review showed that there was no bat involved and ball tracker indicated that the ball was going to hit. Vasconcelos had to depart for 15.
In the following over, Craig Overton struck Nathan McSweeney on the pad and was vociferous in his appeal. The decision was again in favour of the batter, but Somerset didn’t hesitate to review again and once more the Champions were proved to be correct. McSweeney was already walking after viewing the replay on the big screen when the umpire’s finger was raised for a second time with just 18 runs on the board.
It was then a case of third time lucky for the Steelbacks when a brilliant piece of fielding in the deep by Daniel Sams saw a run out reviewed but, on this occasion, the batters survived.
The first ball of the fifth over saw David Willey (6) miscue Overton high into the Birmingham sky. Gregory ran in from long off and Kohler-Cadmore ran in from long on. Both called for the ball, but they crashed into each other. Thankfully for the holders, Gregory emerged from the carnage with the ball in hand and Northants were three down!
The first six of the day came when Chris Lynn deposited Overton into the Hollies, but Ball became the 17th Somerset bowler to bowl a maiden over as Northants stumbled to 39 for three by the end of the six-over powerplay.
Lynn and Saif Zaib began to rebuild the innings, and the Northants 50 came after seven overs with the 50 partnership for the fourth wicket arriving from 37 deliveries.
With the score on 84, James Rew was unable to hold on to a difficult chance on the boundary as 16 runs came from the 11th over, bowled by Jack Leach.
The partnership was worth 65 when a good off-cutter from Ball accounted for Lynn (39 from 26) at 91 for four in the 12th over.
Zaib took his side to three figures in the 13th by clubbing Leach back over his head for four, but he perished for 26 in the following over when he picked out Kohler-Cadmore at short third off Ball with the scoreboard showing 104 for five. That was Ball’s 200th career T20 wicket.
The score had advanced to 124 when Sams took a sensational catch to account for Louis Kimber (9). The Australian all rounder leapt full length to pouch a stunning chance in the deep and gained extra points for artistic endeavour as he slid gracefully to a stop before the celebrations could begin.
Ball capped a superb individual performance by claiming the wickets of Lewis McManus (21) and Luke Procter (0) in the 18th over, both caught by Kohler Cadmore (at fine leg and mid off respectively) to finish with four for 17 as the Steelbacks slipped to 134 for eight.
Meredith claimed his third when Ben Sanderson (1) was caught behind by Thomas Rew. The Northants batter reviewed the call but Ultra Edge clearly showed a spike, and when Meredith’s catch in the deep gave Samms his first wicket Northants were all out for 143 with four balls remaining.
The Somerset reply got off to the worst possible start when Tom Banton edged the first ball of the innings behind, and when Thomas Rew picked out McSweeney at extra cover, the team from Taunton were six for two.
That soon became 12 for three when James Rew (3) was bowled by Willey whilst looking to sweep.
However, the balance of power shifted when 28 runs came off the sixth over, bowled by Procter, as Somerset advanced to 52 for three at the end of the power play.
With the score on 66 in the ninth over, Kohler-Cadmore was given out lbw for 11, but after a brief conversation between the batters, a review was called. Once again the video evidence was in favour of Somerset.
Smeed looked certain to make his 21st T20 half century for the Club, but James Sales found an outside edge and a stunning diving catch from McManus saw the Somerset opener returning to the dressing room for 49 from 35 balls at 74 for four.
With 48 needed from five overs, Willey struck again as Lewis Gregory lofted to long off. Kohler-Cadmore sliced Harrison to point, Overton was brilliantly caught at long on when Willey parried the ball for Zaib to complete the catch and it came down to 25 from the last 12 balls.
Procter showed immense bottle to concede just two from the first six and 23 from the last over, from Sanderson, was too many for Somerset to find.
