Tom Banton smashed 75 off just 43 balls to set up a Somerset victory over Northamptonshire Steelbacks and book the reigning champions a place at Vitality Blast Finals Day. Tom Banton made hay against an often-wayward Northamptonshire attack, hitting five sixes and six fours as Somerset racked up an intimidating 215 for three at a sold-out Wantage Road.
Tom Banton was the dominant partner in a stand of 125 in 11.3 overs with Tom Kohler-Cadmore who at first struggled to get going before finding his groove and registering 63 off just 43 balls with two fours and five sixes. Tom Banton smashed 75 off just 43 balls to set up a 17-run Somerset victory over Northamptonshire to send the reigning champions back to finals day in the Vitality Blast.
Pitch and Toss
Northampton features a pitch that strongly favours batters, resulting in frequent high-scoring matches and allowing players to play their shots with confidence. These ideal conditions not only boost the performance of the batters but also provide fans with exciting, high-scoring games. The average first innings score at this venue is 193, with 156 being the typical second essay total.
Northamptonshire skipper David Willey have won the toss and have opted to field
Tom Banton and Tom Kohler Cadmore guides Somerset to 215 in 20 overs
Tom Banton smashed 75 off just 43 balls to set up a Somerset victory over Northamptonshire Steelbacks and book the reigning champions a place at Vitality Blast Finals Day. Tom Banton made hay against an often-wayward Northamptonshire attack, hitting five sixes and six fours as Somerset racked up an intimidating 215 for three at a sold-out Wantage Road.
Tom Banton was the dominant partner in a stand of 125 in 11.3 overs with Tom Kohler-Cadmore who at first struggled to get going before finding his groove and registering 63 off just 43 balls with two fours and five sixes.
Earlier, Willey (1-33) struck in the second over to have Will Smeed (6) caught behind, but Banton stayed aggressive from the outset as Somerset ended the six-over powerplay on 49-1. Tom Banton punished a loose Freddie Heldreich over with consecutive sixes over deep midwicket, reaching his half-century off 31 balls.
Kohler-Cadmore reached his half-century off 38 balls and it took a spectacular diving catch from Saif Zaib at deep midwicket to finally remove the Somerset man, with Tom Banton having fallen three overs earlier to a terrific relay catch on the boundary.
Tom 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 man, 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.
Skipper David Willey’s knock in vain as Northamptonshire fell short by 17 runs
Northamptonshire lost George Bartlett in Craig Overton’s opening over with a chip to midwicket, but the Steelbacks otherwise made a strong start to their chase as they finished the powerplay 52-1.
Ricardo Vasconcelos (30 off 24) was caught at fine leg off Lewis Gregory (3-35), while after a slow start, Justin Broad (29 off 18) hit his straps, scooping Ben Green for six and four off consecutive balls and pulling the next delivery for another boundary. Northamptonshire were 92-2 after 10 overs, though Broad would fall in rather tame fashion in the 13th, giving Gregory a straightforward return catch off his own bowling.
Saif Zaib (32 off 16) picked up the baton, sending a Green delivery over fine leg and dissecting the field with great precision, while Willey brought up his half-century off 35 balls. Northamptonshire started the last five overs needing 79 to win and Zaib swung Gregory high over fine leg for six before becoming Gregory’s third wicket when he skied a catch to mid-on.
Willey continued to press, hitting Jake Ball (1-41) down the ground before he was caught on the cover boundary. Ashton Agar (28no off 11) smashed a four and consecutive sixes off the final over but it was in vain as Northamptonshire fell short by 17 runs. 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. Despite a broken hand, Vasconcelos was maneuvering the ball nicely, ramping Jake Ball for six as Northamptonshire finished the powerplay on 52 for one. Willey got the crowd singing by pummeling Overton straight for six and swinging Gregory over fine leg into the gardens on Wellingborough Road.
Vasconcelos (30) was caught at fine leg 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 ahead of Somerset, but still behind the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern equation.
Broad reverse swept Roelf van der Merwe for four and six to keep the scoreboard ticking but fell in tame fashion giving Gregory a straightforward return catch. Zaib (32) picked up the baton, sending a Green delivery over fine leg and dissecting the field with great 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 mid-on. Willey continued to press, hitting Ball down the ground before he was caught on the cover boundary. Agar (28*) smashed a four and consecutive sixes off the final over but it was in vain as Northamptonshire fell short by 17 runs.
Presentations and Road Ahead
Northants loosing captain David Willey said :“At the halfway point it’s a good score but we knew it was a good pitch and it can be difficult to defend here. “I felt like I couldn’t get going just when I needed to but the boys that came in played some brilliant cameos to keep us in it.
“For a fairly inexperienced group to play like that against a very good side is very promising for us. “It was the first game of the comp for some guys and we’ve got some great learnings there.”
Somerset winning skipper Lewis Gregory said : “The last 20 felt like we were backs to the wall trying to defend. “Even though it was a lot of runs I felt they always had a chance.
“Tom Banton played brilliantly and we went really well at the back end with the bat. “We’ve got strength in depth and we’ve found a formula to win. We’ve got power with the bat and experience with the ball.”
Tom Banton is Player of the Match for his 75 runs. Ironically Lewis Gregory drops a skyer last ball of the match – the music man enjoys it, but it does not matter. Northants have to rue their sloppy fielding, they easily could have saved 17 runs in the field, but Somerset batted particularly well and 215 is always imposing, particularly in a knockout match.
That last-ball drop was about the only blemish on Somerset’s fielding, arguably harder than the key chance Gus Miller dropped off Tom Kohler-Cadmore earlier on. That was a crucial drop and Northants really will have to wonder why .Not vintage weather for T20 but we’ve had a cracking game with over 400 runs and the game alive until late in the evening.
Somerset have overcome an away tie to get back to Finals Day for a fourth year running while a brave campaign by Northamptonshire comes to an end at if – as they were not behind there, chasing well against a Somerset side struggling bowling in very wet second innings conditions.