wide line... and a wonder-catch to win it! Tom Kohler-Cadmore, at backward point, flings out his left hand as Sams slashes towards deep third! It's the perfect shot for the moment, it seems a certain four, but it's the perfect leap for the title! Somerset win the Vitality Blast for the first time since 2005!
Somerset vs Essex, Final at Birmingham, Vitality Blast, Jul 15 2023 - Match Result
10.17pm And with that, Somerset ascend the podium, and cap a record-breaking Blast campaign with their second title, and their first since 2005! The bridesmaids have made it to the altar at long last! And the celebrations will be glorious. From Miller, Vish, Alan and the team, goodnight!
10.16pm And here's Lewis Gregory: "Pretty damned good, been to Finals Day many times, a special feeling. Everyone sees Somerset as the nearly men, harder each time you come back. Did it the hard way but just rewards for an excellent competition. Seamers have been immense, great recruitments with Ish coming in, and the boys have done it with the bat. We've bowled teams out 70% of the time, which helps no end. Can't speak more highly of the lads. I'm fizzed up for everyone."
10.10pm Time for the presentations. James VInce is the Player of the Tournament, but the man of the moment is Matt Henry for his figures of 4 for 24.
"Stoked, we played some really good cricket this campaign, we knew anything over 140 would be defendable, we believed it could be done if we took wickets. This whole group has been outstanding, consistency is that everyone has done it, and it's been a long time coming at Finals Day. Overton has been exceptional, I've loved bowling with him. Hats off to the crowd, and the Somerset fans for their support all year."
Simon Harmer: "End of the day, we were outplayed tonight, I can't fault our boys, one thing you can't take from Essex is how we fight to the end. The sun will still rise tomorrow. We came out of the blocks strongly, but a couple of things didn't go out way. Credit to them, but it is what it is. No-one gave us a chance this tournament, but we've extremely proud."
Tom Kohler-Cadmore is speaking to Sky: "I'm just happy we've performed as a team. Not a single player in the team hasn't won us a game, and that's pretty special. I saw that catch all the way, one of those ones that sticks or doesn't stick. This year Lewis [Gregory] has been outstanding for us, always taking the attacking option. 15-16 players have contributed to at least one win, it gives us freedom to make a matchwinning contribution. Everyone knows their role and no-one's bigger than the team."
10pm Sampath informs me that Somerset are the first team to bowl their opponents in both matches on Finals Day. Even at the age of 20, this competition is throwing up new scenarios.
ChrisTaunton: "At last! After 18 years. My daughter was born in July 2005 - this is a wonderful double celebration for us!And to everyone here in Taunton - make the rock rock tomorrow!!!!Brilliant work, the whole Somerset team."
Sowmya : "No one except the Somerset 11 gave Somerset a chance after their batting Vs Surrey. Their bowling saw them through in the SF "
9.56pm What a day! We thought it would be wrecked by the weather, but in the end it was enhanced by some juicy conditions that made it a bowler's day! Matt Henry seals the title with (surely) Player-of-the-Match figures of 4 for 24, but make no mistake, Daniel Sams had the measure of that chase... if that ball had snuck through... golly!
Fireworks, handshakes, jubilation and despair. It's what Finals Day is all about!
Kannadachi : "D Sams did enough but just couldn't see Essex through in the SF. Now is his chance to see Essex home "
back of a length, cracked hard to the off side
slammed through the line! High over long-on, that's outstanding hitting, right in the arc, fearless tonking!
Henry returns
Over to Sams. 21 needed from 12. A couple of boundaries in these six balls, and who knows?
head over the ball with a big stride to the legbreak, firm block to the off side.
flicked off the pad to deep midwicket. One ball for Cook to see off
drops the knee and swats a massive six over midwicket! Ballsy batting from Sams, picked his area, and went for broke, high into the Hollies!
open face on the front foot, over to Sams with a single to point
tossed-up legbreak, back go the stumps! Lovely teasing bowling, up above the eyeline of the left-hander, who has a wipe through the width outside off, but the ball dips and bites and turns back into his off stump. This is nearly checkmate
outside off, clipped hard to deep midwicket, Overton swoops round to limit the damage to two
Here comes Sweet Caroline...
Thumps it straight, out of the full length, but can't get a proper connection. Plugs over the head of mid-off, but at least he gets the strike
Decisions for Sams. Find a boundary or take the single?
tapped to the on-side from under the eyeline, another single
Somerset way ahead on DLS, incidentally
hauls a cramped pull to deep midwicket. Just the single..
Sams in the firing line. Has he got a boundary in him?
hard-handed drive to mid-off, Henry gathers well this time in two hands and unleashes a shy. Would have been out!
tapped to the off-side, Henry fumbles and Beard gets back for the second.... arguably not the worst result for Somerset
round the wicket, can't get off strike from the back-of-a-length ball, worked to the on-side
A bit of drizzle in the air now...
chopped to the leg-side from outside off, Essex can't decline singles but it means Sams is off-strike. Ideal finish to the over for Somerset
wider line, angled across the left-hander, skimming past his back-cut, into the keeper's gloves
open-faced, guided to backward point
Who can stay with Sams? Aaron Beard, you're up
bowled him! Flat-footed from Snater as Sodhi spears in the faster flatter stump-threatener. Straight though his ambitious swish. Bullseye!
swings himself off his feet in his eagerness to pull to leg... but they get the single all the same
Edgbaston, Birmingham | |
Toss | Essex, elected to field first |
Series | |
Season | 2023 |
Player Of The Match | |
Series result | Somerset won the 2023 Vitality Blast |
Match days | 15 July 2023 - day (20-over match) |
Umpires | |
TV Umpire | |
Reserve Umpire | |
Match Referee |