Report & Reaction: Somerset v Hampshire Hawks Men, Vitality Blast Final

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Somerset lifted the Vitality Blast trophy for the third time after beating Hampshire by six wickets in a pulsating final at Edgbaston.

Hampshire, put in, piled up 194 for six, equalling the highest score in a Blast final, built around a buccaneering second-wicket stand of 97 in 59 balls by Toby Albert (85 from 48) and James Vince (52, 34).

Somerset had to pull off the best Blast final run-chase to take the trophy - and they did, reaching 195 for four with six balls to spare.

Will Smeed struck 94 from 58 balls and the middle order helped him crunch 76 from the last five overs, captain Lewis Gregory crowing the chase with an unbeaten 18 from five balls, to break the Hawks’ hearts.

Hampshire were put in, so Chris Lynn returned to the crease that he had left just an hour earlier as the first Finals Day century-maker.

Having blitzed Northamptonshire Steelbacks for a 49-ball semi-final ton, this time he reached only 12 before lifting Craig Overton to cover.

The response of Albert and Vince to their team-mate’s demise was brutal.

The next eight legitimate balls, from Migael Pretorius and Overton were smashed for five fours and three sixes to leave the Hawks 83 for one after the powerplay.

The Hawks were flying but, just as they had against Lancashire Lightning earlier in the day, Somerset’s bowlers delivered the mid-innings overs very effectively.

Vince pulled Lewis Goldsworthy to deep mid-wicket and James Fuller fell to a fine low return catch by Jake Ball.

After a quieter period, Basingstoke boy Albert accelerated again with four fours, all improvised shots behind square, in six balls.

He struck ten fours and two sixes before missing a slog at Gregory. Benny Howell’s 19-ball 26 lifted the Hawks to 194 for five, equalling the best score in a Blast final.

Somerset’s reply began briskly with 46 from 29 balls from openers Smeed and Tom Kohler-Cadmore, but the Hawks hit back with two wickets in six balls.

Kohler-Cadmore was bowled by a perfect yorker from Sonny Baker and Tom Abell hoisted Fuller to deep mid-wicket.

Smeed reached his half-century from 35 balls but the required run-rate began to escalate and Somerset needed 76 from the last six overs.

That became 37 from three as Smeed and Sean Dickson (33 not out, 22 balls) hit freely and two sixes from Dickson in the 18th over tilted the contest back Somerset’s way.

Smeed belted Currie to long off and was caught but Gregory marched to the crease full of purpose and self-belief.

Five minutes later Somerset’s skipper heaved Currie far into the Hollies Stand to trigger the downing of a few ciders in the vicinity of Taunton, Frome, Weston-Super-Mare, Midsomer Norton and Farrington Gurney.