126/9 (20.0)
CR : 6.30
143/10 (19.2)
CR : 7.40
Northamptonshire won by 17 runs 🏆
Player of the Match
David Willey
3/176(8)
19.5
0
Ben Sanderson to Riley Meredith
Full and angling in on the stumps, Meredith swings hard at it and gets an inside edge to the left of the keeper. No run.
19.6
W
Ben Sanderson to Riley Meredith
BOWLED' EM!!! The middle stump is flattened and so are the chances of Somerset defending their title. Northamptonshire storm into the final of T20 Blast 2026 by defeating Somerset by 17 runs. Sanderson bowls it full on the stumps, Meredith clears his front leg and looks to hoick it across the line but misses it completely and sees the ball crash on the middle pole, which is uprooted.
R Meredith 3(5)
b B Sanderson
4s/6s
0/0
SR
60.00
Over 20
Somerset 126/9
Riley Meredith3(5)
Jack Leach2(4)
Ben Sanderson3-28(4.0)
NOR won by 17 runs
6:30 PM IST & 2 PM Local Time: That's it! A remarkable performance from Northamptonshire in this low-scoring thriller. The defending champions, Somerset, have been knocked out of the competition as Northamptonshire pull off a stunning 17-run victory. Northamptonshire have booked their place in the summit clash and will return later today for the Final.
Earlier in the day, Somerset won the toss and elected to field first. The defending champions made a strong start with the ball, picking up three wickets inside the Powerplay to leave Northamptonshire in trouble at 39/3 after six overs. The responsibility was on Chris Lynn to anchor the innings and guide his side to a competitive total.
Chris Lynn (39) and Saif Zaib (26) then steadied the innings with a crucial 65-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Both batters fell in quick succession, but Lewis McManus chipped in with a valuable 21 off 16 balls down the order. Somerset bowled exceptionally well at the death and eventually bowled Northamptonshire out for 143 in 19.2 overs, with Jake Ball the standout bowler, finishing with superb figures of 4/17.
In reply, Somerset suffered a nightmare start. David Willey dismissed Tom Banton with the very first ball of the innings, while Thomas Rew and James Rew followed in quick succession. Somerset were reeling at 24/3 after five overs before Luke Procter endured a nightmare sixth over, conceding 28 runs.
Will Smeed and Tom Kohler-Cadmore (29 off 37) then put together a crucial 62-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Kohler-Cadmore survived a major scare after successfully overturning an LBW decision on review when he was on 11.
Smeed was batting beautifully but eventually fell for 49, leaving Somerset requiring 48 runs from the final five overs. Northamptonshire kept chipping away with wickets at the death, and Somerset lost their way when the pressure mounted. The defending champions were eventually beaten by 17 runs and knocked out of the competition. David Willey and Ben Sanderson led the way with three wickets apiece as Northamptonshire secured their place in the Final.
Earlier in the day, Somerset won the toss and elected to field first. The defending champions made a strong start with the ball, picking up three wickets inside the Powerplay to leave Northamptonshire in trouble at 39/3 after six overs. The responsibility was on Chris Lynn to anchor the innings and guide his side to a competitive total.
Chris Lynn (39) and Saif Zaib (26) then steadied the innings with a crucial 65-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Both batters fell in quick succession, but Lewis McManus chipped in with a valuable 21 off 16 balls down the order. Somerset bowled exceptionally well at the death and eventually bowled Northamptonshire out for 143 in 19.2 overs, with Jake Ball the standout bowler, finishing with superb figures of 4/17.
In reply, Somerset suffered a nightmare start. David Willey dismissed Tom Banton with the very first ball of the innings, while Thomas Rew and James Rew followed in quick succession. Somerset were reeling at 24/3 after five overs before Luke Procter endured a nightmare sixth over, conceding 28 runs.
Will Smeed and Tom Kohler-Cadmore (29 off 37) then put together a crucial 62-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Kohler-Cadmore survived a major scare after successfully overturning an LBW decision on review when he was on 11.
Smeed was batting beautifully but eventually fell for 49, leaving Somerset requiring 48 runs from the final five overs. Northamptonshire kept chipping away with wickets at the death, and Somerset lost their way when the pressure mounted. The defending champions were eventually beaten by 17 runs and knocked out of the competition. David Willey and Ben Sanderson led the way with three wickets apiece as Northamptonshire secured their place in the Final.
Player of the Match: David Willey
David Willey (Player of the Match and Northamptonshire Steelbacks Captain): "[On the belief in the team while defending this total] We have won games from nowhere, done in different manners, and that was another example today. We probably felt we were 15-20 runs short with the bat. Knew we were going to have to take early wickets and put a squeeze on, but that's the value of runs on the board in knockout cricket.
[Team talk at the halfway stage] Look, it wasn't easy. The lads touched on actually pace off; the top of the stumps was the challenge. We actually didn't use much pace-off. We tried to stay on the stumps as much as we could. There was a little bit there that made it difficult to hit through the ball. And again, you got wickets on their early doors, and the pressure comes.
[On his good catches] Lewis McManus' catch was actually very much like David Murphy's in 2013 to win then. And at that moment, I thought, oh, maybe it's our day. But look, we talked about playing with our bowlers being brave, and we've got to take our chances. And that's been something we've tried throughout the competition. We still shelled one today, but taking big catches in key moments is what's going to win you trophies.
[On the conditions and things to work on before the final] Yeah, look, I think the blueprint with the ball is there. I think we've got to bat better. I think we came off there individually. I think we're really disappointed with how we batted, actually. We're a lot better than that, even on a challenging pitch. So, we will reflect on that individually and as a group, and then sit back, watch this game, see how the pitch changes and how they go about it. And then we'll come back hard this afternoon.
[What will he do between the matches?] I think my mistress is going to pick my lad up so he can come and watch the final. So, yeah, we'll, you know, a few guys might go back to the hotel and get some food."
[Team talk at the halfway stage] Look, it wasn't easy. The lads touched on actually pace off; the top of the stumps was the challenge. We actually didn't use much pace-off. We tried to stay on the stumps as much as we could. There was a little bit there that made it difficult to hit through the ball. And again, you got wickets on their early doors, and the pressure comes.
[On his good catches] Lewis McManus' catch was actually very much like David Murphy's in 2013 to win then. And at that moment, I thought, oh, maybe it's our day. But look, we talked about playing with our bowlers being brave, and we've got to take our chances. And that's been something we've tried throughout the competition. We still shelled one today, but taking big catches in key moments is what's going to win you trophies.
[On the conditions and things to work on before the final] Yeah, look, I think the blueprint with the ball is there. I think we've got to bat better. I think we came off there individually. I think we're really disappointed with how we batted, actually. We're a lot better than that, even on a challenging pitch. So, we will reflect on that individually and as a group, and then sit back, watch this game, see how the pitch changes and how they go about it. And then we'll come back hard this afternoon.
[What will he do between the matches?] I think my mistress is going to pick my lad up so he can come and watch the final. So, yeah, we'll, you know, a few guys might go back to the hotel and get some food."
What a thrilling contest we have witnessed here at Edgbaston! Northamptonshire have held their nerve to get the better of the defending champions, Somerset, and book their place in the Grand Finale. They will return later today for the Final, where they will face the winner of the second Semi-Final, which is all set to get underway shortly.
For now, this is Pritam Dey signing off on behalf of my co-commentator Akshay Bhide who, along with scorer/analyst Manish Bishnoi brought all the actions of this clash. Switch tabs now to follow all the action from the second Semi-Final! BYE BYE👋
For now, this is Pritam Dey signing off on behalf of my co-commentator Akshay Bhide who, along with scorer/analyst Manish Bishnoi brought all the actions of this clash. Switch tabs now to follow all the action from the second Semi-Final! BYE BYE👋