Somerset's relentless pursuit of a Vitality Blast quarter-final berth reached a crescendo as they demolished Hampshire by nine wickets at Utilita Bowl. The defending champions, buoyed by Tom Banton's blistering 79*, cruised to victory with 12 balls to spare, leaving Hampshire's three-year qualification streak in tatters.
Banton, the tournament's leading run-scorer, unleashed his destructive power on the Hampshire bowlers, smashing an unbeaten 79 off just 52 deliveries. His partnerships of 81 with George Thomas and 77 with Tom Kohler-Cadmore rendered Hampshire's total of 157 for 7 a mere footnote.
Somerset's dominance was evident from the outset, with Jack Leach and Migael Pretorius stifling Hampshire's batting. Pretorius, making his Somerset T20 debut, conceded only four runs off the bat in his first over and dismissed James Vince with a sensational delivery that clipped the top of off stump.
Leach, despite his recent England Test snub, proved his class with a tidy 2 for 23, including the wicket of Ben McDermott. Hampshire's hopes rested on Tom Prest, who scored a valiant 51, but his dismissal triggered a collapse that saw Hampshire lose their last five wickets for just 29 runs.
Somerset's chase was a masterclass in power-hitting. Banton and Thomas raced to 81 before Howell ended Thomas' innings. However, Kohler-Cadmore stepped up, smashing two fours and three sixes in his 43 not out to seal the victory.
Banton's third fifty of the campaign propelled him past 400 runs for the season, highlighting his status as one of the most dangerous batsmen in the Vitality Blast. Somerset's victory puts them on the brink of qualification, with only Gloucestershire, who have one fixture remaining, able to deny them a knockout berth.
Tags: #Somerset, #Hampshire, #VitalityBlast, #TomBanton, #TomKohlerCadmore
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