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Somerset qualify for Finals Day
Tonight’s victory over Northants Steelbacks has seen Somerset qualify for a fourth consecutive Vitality Blast Finals Day!
We will once again be taking part in domestic cricket’s showpiece day at Edgbaston on Saturday September 14th.
We will be announcing everything that Somerset Members and supporters need to know about Finals Day tomorrow morning.
This will include information on tickets and travel options.
Somerset’s quest to become the first side to retain the Vitality Blast trophy took another step to becoming a remarkable reality following a 17-run victory over Northamptonshire Steelbacks at a wet and windy County Ground, Northampton.
Player of the match, Tom Banton smashed a brilliant 75 off just 43 balls to help his side book their place at Finals Day for the fourth consecutive year.
Banton continued his outstanding form by hitting five sixes and six fours as Somerset racked up an intimidating 215 for three in front of a full house.
The Somerset ‘keeper/batter was the dominant partner in a stand of 125 in 11.3 overs with Tom Kohler-Cadmore, who allowed Banton to take the lead, before accelerating to 63 off just 43 balls with two fours and five sixes.
Steelbacks captain David Willey led a spirited run chase, contributing 57 off just 39 deliveries (two fours, four sixes), finding good support from Saif Zaib, Ricardo Vasconcelos and Justin Broad to keep the hosts in the hunt. However, with Somerset’s skipper Lewis Gregory taking three for 35, the target ultimately proved beyond their reach as they closed 17 runs short.
Earlier Willey struck in the second over having Will Smeed (6) caught behind, but both Willey and Ben Sanderson gifted Somerset free runs as they sent down a series of wide legside deliveries.
Banton showed early intent as Somerset ended the powerplay on 49 for one.
With strong winds making it difficult to judge high catches, Gus Miller failed to get into position to take a steepling chance off a leading edge from Kohler-Cadmore, but Banton had no difficulty in locating the boundary, punishing a loose Freddie Heldreich over with consecutive sixes over deep midwicket, reaching his half-century off 31 balls.
Kohler-Cadmore finally hit his stride with a big six over long-off followed by two further boundaries as Australian overseas spinner Ashton Agar conceded 23 off an expensive over. Kohler-Cadmore added two further sixes off the next over, Justin Broad in the firing line this time.
Banton’s departure came thanks to some excellent fielding on the boundary as he attempted to hit Saif Zaib for six. First Broad held onto the ball before tossing it to George Bartlett to complete the catch as he stepped over the rope.
Kohler-Cadmore survived a strong appeal for a stumping, the third umpire deeming the delivery a no ball because the keeper’s gloves were in front of the stumps. The batter duly put the free hit away for a six, going on to reach his half-century off 38 balls before muscling Agar out of the ground for yet another maximum. It took a spectacular diving catch from Zaib at deep midwicket to finally remove the Somerset batter, Sanderson finally getting one in the wickets column.
Sean Dickson (33) and Lewis Gregory (20) shared a stand of 44 in the last 3.4 overs, the skipper ending proceedings with an audacious reverse ramp off White for six.
Northamptonshire began their innings in persistent rain, losing George Bartlett in Craig Overton’s opening over with a chip to midwicket.
Willey though showed real intent against Josh Davey, smashing him down the ground for four and depositing him over long-off for six.
Vasconcelos was also manoeuvring the ball nicely, ramping Jake Ball for six as Northamptonshire finished the powerplay on 52 for one. Willey continued to keep his side in the game, finding the rope regularly and at one point smashing the ball over fine leg into the gardens on Wellingborough Road.
Vasconcelos (30) was caught at fine leg by Davey off Gregory, but after a slow start, Broad (29) hit his straps, scooping Ben Green for six and four off consecutive balls and pulling the next delivery for another boundary.
The Steelbacks reached 92 for two after 10 overs, but still behind the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern equation.
Broad reverse swept Roelof van der Merwe for four and six to keep the scoreboard ticking but fell by giving Gregory a straightforward return catch.
Zaib (32) picked up the baton, sending a Green delivery over fine leg and dissecting the field with precision, while Willey brought up his half-century off 35 balls.
Northamptonshire started the last five overs needing 79 to win and despite taking a blow to the helmet, Zaib swung Gregory high over fine leg for six before becoming Gregory’s third wicket when he skied a catch to Tom Abell at mid-on.
Willey continued to press, hitting Ball down the ground before the bowler got his revenge when the Steelbacks skipper was caught on the cover boundary by van der Merwe.
Agar (28*) smashed a four and consecutive sixes off the final over but it was in vain as Somerset’s quest for history continued.
