The Northamptonshire Steelbacks have advanced to the T20 Blast final at Edgbaston following a narrow 17-run victory over defending champions Somerset. Captain David Willey was instrumental in the win, recording figures of 3-17 to stifle the Somerset pursuit.
Early in the match, Somerset seemed in control. After choosing to bowl first, they dismissed the Steelbacks for 143, with Jake Ball claiming 4-17. Chris Lynn provided the most resistance for Northants, scoring 39 runs off 26 balls, though the team struggled to maintain momentum against the relentless Somerset attack.
Defending a modest total, Northamptonshire relied on an aggressive start. Willey dismissed Tom Banton on the first ball of the innings, and Somerset soon found themselves struggling at 12-3. Will Smeed provided a brief spark for Somerset with a quick 49, but his departure, followed by the loss of key middle-order batters, swung the momentum back to the Steelbacks.
A highlight of the match occurred in the 18th over, when Willey pulled off a remarkable piece of fielding near the boundary, assisting in the dismissal of Craig Overton. Ben Sanderson proved effective as well, finishing with 3-28 and sealing the result by bowling Riley Meredith on the final ball. This win marks the first time Northamptonshire has reached the competition’s final since their title-winning campaign in 2016.
