Tag: Vitality Blast

Recent Match Report – Somerset vs Surrey 2nd Semi Final 2023
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Recent Match Report – Somerset vs Surrey 2nd Semi Final 2023

Somerset 142 for 7 (Abbott 4-23) beat Surrey 118 (Henry 3-19, Overton 3-24, Green 3-25) by 24 runsCraig Overton, Matt Henry and Ben Green claimed three wickets apiece in a stunning defence of a sub-par target of 143, as Somerset overcame Surrey by 24 runs to book their place in the Vitality Blast final, where they will face the 2019 champions, Essex, with the chance to cap a record-breaking campaign with their first T20 title since 2005.At the halfway mark of the contest, it seemed Surrey already had one foot in the final, after a masterful display from their own seam attack, led by Sean Abbott's stand-out figures of 4 for 23. The build-up to their campaign had been overshadowed by the absence of Sunil Narine, who opted to stay in the USA for the maiden season of Major League Cricket, but...
Recent Match Report – WORCS vs Hampshire 4th Quarter Final 2023
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Recent Match Report – WORCS vs Hampshire 4th Quarter Final 2023

Hampshire 102 for 5 (Prest 25, Weatherley 25) beat Worcestershire 100 (Usama Mir 39, Ellis 4-6) by five wicketsDefending champions Hampshire Hawks will face Essex in the Vitality Blast semi-final on Finals Day after Nathan Ellis razed Worcestershire Rapids with his career best.Ellis claimed 4 for 6, with Chris Wood and John Turner both picking up two scalps each in a supreme bowling performance.The Rapids had an enterprising 70-run stand between Usama Mir and Ed Pollock - but it was bookended by slumping to 29 for 6 and then losing the last four wickets for one run as they were rolled for 100.The Hawks spluttered to the target to win by five wickets and reach their 10th Finals Day and maintain their hopes of being the first team to win the Blast back-to-back.The Rapids had never played a ...
Recent Match Report – Bears vs Essex 1st Quarter Final 2023
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Recent Match Report – Bears vs Essex 1st Quarter Final 2023

Essex 171 for 8 (Lawrence 62, Drakes 2-26) beat Birmingham Bears 167 for 7 (Hain 52, Cook 2-24) by two wicketsEssex became the first team through to 2023 Vitality Blast Finals Day after beating Birmingham Bears by two wickets in a thrilling quarter-final at Edgbaston.The Bears charged through the group stage with 11 wins out of 14 but bowed out at the quarter-final stage for the third successive year in the face of a commanding display from Simon Harmer's side.Disciplined Essex bowling, backed up by excellent fielding, restricted the Bears to 167 for 6. Sam Hain struck a typically polished 52 (26 balls) but, tied down by Harmer (4-0-20-1) and Sam Cook (4-0-24-2), the home side needed some late flailing from Chris Benjamin and Dominic Drakes to at least approach par.Essex then reach 171 fo...
Recent Match Report – Somerset vs Kent South Group 2023
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Recent Match Report – Somerset vs Kent South Group 2023

Somerset 221 for 7 (Smeed 61, Stewart 4-48) beat Kent 206 for 6 (Evison 46, Gregory 2-33) by 15 runsKent Spitfires' hopes of grabbing the last quarter-final place in the Vitality Blast were dashed by the Somerset juggernaut as the runaway South Group winners pulled off a 15-run win at Taunton.Will Smeed led a typical assault by the home side after losing the toss, smashing 61 off 28 balls, while Sean Dickson (41), Tom Kohler-Cadmore (31) and Lewis Gregory (37) made significant contributions to a score of 221 for 7. Grant Stewart claimed 4 for 48, but left-arm spinner George Linde was the pick of the Kent bowlers with 2 for 25.In reply, the Spitfires, looking to overtake Essex in the table, posted 206 for 7, Joey Evison cracking 46 off 24 balls, Jack Leaning 41 and skipper Sam Billings 36....