Overton brings Somerset back from brink in stunning chase

Craig Overton struck a remarkable 82* from 30 Getty Images

Yorkshire 161 for 9 (Lyth 64, Ball 3-30) beat Somerset 162 for 8 (Overton 79*, Hill 2-12) by 2 wickets

Defending champions Somerset are through to their sixth successive Vitality Blast Finals Day after Craig Overton played one of the all-time great innings - 79 not out off 30 balls - to grab a two-wicket victory from the jaws of defeat chasing 162 against Yorkshire at Headingley.

A career-best innings, including eight fours and five sixes, recovered Somerset from 82 for 8 in the 15th over and achieved 22 off the last over from Matthew Revis, winning with a ball to spare.

Overton added to his earlier two wickets to ensure Lewis Gregory's side will target a third title in four years at Edgbaston on Saturday after restricting Yorkshire to 161 for 9. Fellow seamer Jake Ball claimed 3 for 30.

Opener Adam Lyth top-scored with 64 for Yorkshire, but the hosts felt short as they missed out on the chance to win a maiden Blast title when looking nailed on to win.

While Yorkshire were not short on early boundaries having elected to bat, they ended the powerplay in trouble at 45 for 3. Moeen Ali, promoted to open, edged behind against Overton for a golden duck, Ball got Will Luxton caught behind down leg and Jonny Bairstow was bowled by Australian Riley Meredith.

Yorkshire's all guns blazing approach on flat Headingley pitches has served them so well during the group stages but had to be reined in. Lyth still hit sixes over long-off and long-on and reached his fifty off 31 balls as Yorkshire moved to 82 for 3 after 10 overs.

He shared 58 with fourth-wicket partner George Hill, who contributed 19 before both fell in successive overs - 103 for five in the 14th. Lyth was caught at short third off a top-edged pull at Overton.

Their departures were key just as the bulk of the rebuilding had been done. And, from there, a brilliant and disciplined Somerset effort - they only conceded four extras - squeezed the life out of the innings.

Australian Daniel Sams, who had earlier removed Hill, struck again, so too Ball twice and Meredith twice. Ball got Dom Bess and AJ Tye caught in the deep and behind. Yorkshire felt a long way short with their total.

There, however, renewed hope when Hill's seam forced a miscue from Thomas Rew to mid-off before Tom Banton, released from England's ODI squad to play, edged Tye to slip to make it 18 for 2 in the third over.

Hassan had James Rew brilliantly caught one-handed running around from midwicket by Bess before superb Hill (two for 12) removed Will Smeed. Somerset were four down in the sixth over.

Former Yorkshire batter Tom Kohler-Cadmore was bowled by Dutch quick Logan van Beek to leave Somerset 38 for 5 in the ninth. They needed 113 from the last 10 overs but lost Lewis Goldsworthy to Revis.

Further wickets made the chase look forlorn before Overton - he reached 50 in 22 balls - attacked with freedom, hitting three leg-side sixes in the last over and set up a morning semi-final meeting with Northamptonshire. A single through cover won it.

Somerset 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st8WCF SmeedTHS Rew
2nd10T BantonWCF Smeed
3rd8WCF SmeedJEK Rew
4th2T Kohler-CadmoreWCF Smeed
5th10T Kohler-CadmoreLP Goldsworthy
6th20L GregoryLP Goldsworthy
7th1L GregoryDR Sams
8th23L GregoryC Overton
9th80C OvertonRP Meredith

Twenty20 Cup (England)

Central & West Group
TeamMWLPTNRR
NOR1073280.415
SOM1055200.587
WAR1055200.079
GLO105520-0.236
GLA1046160.107
WOR104616-0.923
Cross Pool
TeamMWLPTNRR
NOR22083.425
GLO22082.825
WOR22082.525
SOM22081.669
GLA22080.777
NOT22080.496
DUR21142.325
WAR21141.772
LEI21140.117
SUR21140.05
HAM2114-0.674
ESS2114-3.04
DER2020-0.908
LAN2020-1.5
YOR2020-1.564
KEN2020-2.434
SUS2020-2.51
MID2020-3.278
North Group
TeamMWLPTNRR
YOR1072301.183
LAN106326-0.09
NOT1064240.099
DUR1046160.06
DER1035160.656
LEI10288-1.932
South Group
TeamMWLPTNRR
HAM1073280.48
ESS1064241.062
SUR1064240.804
KEN104616-0.575
MID104616-0.833
SUS103710-0.893