BIRMINGHAM: Will Smeed was the star as Somerset chased down a record-breaking 195 to beat Hampshire in English cricket’s T20 Blast final at Edgbaston on Saturday.
Smeed struck a superb 94 off 58 balls while Sean Dickson, dropped on eight, made a crucial 33 not out.
Smeed fell at the start of the 19th over with 18 still needed, but Somerset captain Lewis Gregory came in and struck two sixes to take Somerset to 195-4, the highest score in a T20 Blast final.
After Australia’s Chris Lynn’s blistering century in a semi-final win over Northamptonshire earlier in the day, Hampshire made 194-6 in the final as Toby Albert became the competition’s leading run-scorer this season with 85 off 48 balls
But Hampshire were denied what would have been a record fourth Blast trophy thanks mainly to Smeed’s inspired innings.
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“It’s unbelievable, you work hard all season and to get over the line,” Smeed told the BBC.
“The ball seems to fly here, especially under the lights, and the dew comes in, so we always knew we had a chance. It was some proper hitting from Lewis (Gregory) at the end there as well,” he added.
Somerset, beaten in last season’s final by Gloucestershire, joined Hampshire and Leicestershire with three titles, following their wins in 2005 and 2023.
Hampshire captain James Vince, out for 52 in the final, told Sky Sports: “Somerset have been quality throughout and were too good for us tonight.
“We played some really good cricket, but unfortunately, we came up just short.”
Hampshire, however, will have another chance to lift a trophy this season when they play Worcestershire in the 50-over One-Day Cup final at Trent Bridge a week on Saturday.
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