Captain Willey takes Northants into final with scrappy defence
Reigning champions Somerset fall short chasing 144 as Willey inspires gutsy win
18/07Result
1st semi-final, Vitality Blast Men at Birmingham, Jul 18 2026
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![Northamptonshire]( "Northamptonshire")
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![Somerset]( "Somerset")
126/9 (20 ov)
Player of the Match
18/07Result
1st semi-final, Vitality Blast Men at Birmingham, Jul 18 2026
-
![Northamptonshire]( "Northamptonshire")
-
![Somerset]( "Somerset")
126/9 (20 ov)
Player of the Match
Match Centre
Match Details
Series
Toss
Somerset , elected to field first
Player Of The Match
Series result
Northamptonshire advanced
Season
Hours of play (local time)
Start 12.00, First Session 12.00-13.30, Interval 13.30-13.50, Second Session 13.50-13.20
Match days
18 July 2026 (20-over match)
Umpires
TV Umpires
Reserve Umpire
Match Referee
Scorecard Summary
NORTHAMPTONSHIRE 143 (19.2 OVERS)
- Chris Lynn39 (26)
- Saif Zaib26 (28)
- Jake Ball4/17 (4)
- Riley Meredith3/21 (4)
SOMERSET 126/9 (20 OVERS)
- Tom Kohler-Cadmore29 (37)
- Will Smeed49 (35)
- Ben Sanderson3/28 (4)
- David Willey3/17 (4)
Scorer: Manoj UM | Commentator: Andrew Miller
END OF OVER:20 | 5 Runs 1 Wkt | SOM: 126/9 (18 runs required, RR: 6.30)
- Jack Leach2 (4b)
- Ben Sanderson4-0-28-3
- Luke Procter2-0-30-1
2.01pm What a remarkable chase. Somerset scored 28 runs off one over, then 98 off the remaining 19, as a stunning bowling and fielding performance, led by the skipper David Willey sealed the deal! His three wickets for 17 were the statistical highlight, but the beating heart of this performance was his astonishing relay catch at long-on, to extract the dangerous Craig Overton, at the precise moment that Somerset could have turned on the afterburners. Instead, they flamed out!
No messing around on cricket's Longest Day! It's straight over to the second semi-final now... Hampshire vs Nottinghamshire, for the right to contest the Vitality Blast final!
19.6
W
Sanderson to Meredith, OUT, splat! The only fitting ending! Meredith has a swing and his middle stump gets flattened! Good length, beats a desperate hack. Northants march on for a chance to complete a season in which they've been the tournament pace-setters!
RP Meredith b Sanderson 3 (5b 0x4 0x6) SR: 60
19.5
0
Sanderson to Meredith, no run, yorker, goes for the big wind-up... can't connect. Northants can start to think ahead now...
19.4
1
Sanderson to Leach, 1 run, full once more, jabbed into the covers
19.3
1
Sanderson to Meredith, 1 run, it is now! Sanderson nails his length, Meredith toe-ends a drive. Barring a spate of no-balls, it's out of reach now
19.2
1
Sanderson to Leach, 1 run, full, drilled to long-off... that might well be the game!
19.2
1w
Sanderson to Leach, 1 wide, fired down the leg side ... a bonus run for Somerset, and still five balls to come
Match Coverage
All Match NewsCaptain Willey takes Northants into final with scrappy defence
Reigning champions Somerset fall short chasing 144 as Willey inspires gutsy win
Somerset 'thought they'd won it' but revved up Willey has final say
"That's like a red rag to a bull to me," says Northants captain after inspiring turnaround win
Twenty20 Cup (England)
| Central & West Group | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | M | W | L | PT | NRR |
| NOR | 10 | 7 | 3 | 28 | 0.415 |
| SOM | 10 | 5 | 5 | 20 | 0.587 |
| WAR | 10 | 5 | 5 | 20 | 0.079 |
| GLO | 10 | 5 | 5 | 20 | -0.236 |
| GLA | 10 | 4 | 6 | 16 | 0.107 |
| WOR | 10 | 4 | 6 | 16 | -0.923 |
| Cross Pool | |||||
| Team | M | W | L | PT | NRR |
| NOR | 2 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 3.425 |
| GLO | 2 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 2.825 |
| WOR | 2 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 2.525 |
| SOM | 2 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 1.669 |
| GLA | 2 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 0.777 |
| NOT | 2 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 0.496 |
| DUR | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2.325 |
| WAR | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1.772 |
| LEI | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0.117 |
| SUR | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0.05 |
| HAM | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | -0.674 |
| ESS | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | -3.04 |
| DER | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | -0.908 |
| LAN | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | -1.5 |
| YOR | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | -1.564 |
| KEN | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | -2.434 |
| SUS | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | -2.51 |
| MID | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | -3.278 |
| North Group | |||||
| Team | M | W | L | PT | NRR |
| YOR | 10 | 7 | 2 | 30 | 1.183 |
| LAN | 10 | 6 | 3 | 26 | -0.09 |
| NOT | 10 | 6 | 4 | 24 | 0.099 |
| DUR | 10 | 4 | 6 | 16 | 0.06 |
| DER | 10 | 3 | 5 | 16 | 0.656 |
| LEI | 10 | 2 | 8 | 8 | -1.932 |
| South Group | |||||
| Team | M | W | L | PT | NRR |
| HAM | 10 | 7 | 3 | 28 | 0.48 |
| ESS | 10 | 6 | 4 | 24 | 1.062 |
| SUR | 10 | 6 | 4 | 24 | 0.804 |
| KEN | 10 | 4 | 6 | 16 | -0.575 |
| MID | 10 | 4 | 6 | 16 | -0.833 |
| SUS | 10 | 3 | 7 | 10 | -0.893 |