Cricket

Somerset's explosive batting display, led by Tom Banton's blistering 75 off 43 balls, propelled them to a 17-run victory over Northamptonshire Steelbacks in the Vitality Blast quarterfinal. The triumph secured Somerset's place at Finals Day.Banton's innings was a masterclass in power-hitting, featuring five sixes and six fours. He formed a formidable partnership with Tom Kohler-Cadmore, who contributed 63 off 43 balls, including two fours and five sixes. The duo's 125-run stand in 11.3 overs set the tone for Somerset's imposing total of 215 for three.Northamptonshire's chase was spearheaded by David Willey, who smashed 57 off 39 deliveries. Saif Zaib, Ricardo Vasconcelos, and Justin Broad also made significant contributions, but Somerset's bowlers, led by Lewis Gregory's three wickets for 35, proved too strong.Willey's early strike removed Will Smeed, but Somerset capitalized on wayward bowling from Willey and Ben Sanderson, who gifted them numerous wide deliveries. Banton's aggressive approach, including a six off Willey and a crunching drive down the ground, set the pace for Somerset's innings.Kohler-Cadmore struggled initially but found his rhythm, hitting a six over long-off and two boundaries off Ashton Agar's expensive over. He added two more sixes off Justin Broad, while Banton reached his half-century off 31 balls.Banton's dismissal came after a spectacular catch on the boundary, but Kohler-Cadmore continued to punish the Northamptonshire bowlers, reaching his half-century off 38 balls. He was eventually caught by Zaib at deep midwicket, but Sean Dickson and Gregory added a valuable 44-run stand in the final overs.Northamptonshire's chase began in persistent rain, and they lost George Bartlett early. Willey's aggressive batting kept them in the hunt, but Vasconcelos' dismissal and Broad's tame return catch gave Somerset the upper hand.Zaib and Willey kept the scoreboard ticking, but Gregory's three wickets, including Zaib's catch at mid-on, proved decisive. Willey's late surge, including a six off Ball, was not enough to prevent Northamptonshire from falling 17 runs short.

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.

Somerset's Tom Kohler-Cadmore played a pivotal role in their six-wicket victory over Surrey in the Vitality Blast South Group match at Taunton. Chasing 183, Somerset reached the target with six balls to spare, thanks to Kohler-Cadmore's match-winning half-century.Kohler-Cadmore's 51 off 32 balls, including three sixes and three fours, was the cornerstone of Somerset's chase. He shared a crucial 67-run stand with Tom Abell for the third wicket. Debutant George Thomas also impressed with a 25-ball 40, while Sean Dickson's unbeaten 20 at the death sealed the victory.Surrey's innings was built around a 107-run partnership between Sam Curran and Rory Burns. Curran scored 59 off 42 balls, while Burns top-scored with 62 off 44 deliveries. Jamie Overton's quickfire unbeaten 30 at the death added impetus to Surrey's total.Somerset's chase got off to a flying start, with Tom Banton hitting three boundaries in one over. Thomas continued the momentum, taking Dan Worrall for a six and three fours. Surrey fought back, but Kohler-Cadmore's six off Chris Jordan and two fours off Tom Lawes kept Somerset in control.Kohler-Cadmore reached his half-century off 28 deliveries, and he and Abell raised a 50-run partnership off 31 balls. However, Surrey's Jordan and Jacks removed both batsmen in quick succession. Dickson and Gregory then combined for an unbroken 34-run partnership to guide Somerset home.

Somerset emerged victorious in a thrilling Vitality Blast encounter against Kent Spitfires, securing a 14-run victory in a rain-affected match reduced to five overs per side.Tom Kohler-Cadmore played a pivotal role for Somerset, smashing 24 runs off just nine deliveries. His whirlwind cameo included a six and four off the first two balls he faced, setting the tone for Somerset's aggressive approach.Kent's bowlers struggled to contain Kohler-Cadmore and his teammates, with Nathan Gilchrist claiming 2 for 12 on his debut. However, Somerset's innings was marred by a flurry of wickets, with Charlie Stobo and Grant Stewart also picking up scalps.Chasing a revised target of 61 off five overs, Kent's batting lineup faltered under the pressure of Somerset's tight bowling. Riley Meredith and Jake Ball proved to be formidable obstacles, restricting Kent to a mere 46 for 5.Meredith's accuracy and Ball's experience proved too much for Kent's batsmen, who were unable to find the boundaries consistently. Sam Billings, Kent's skipper, managed a 10-ball 16, but his dismissal in the fourth over effectively ended Kent's hopes of victory.Somerset's disciplined bowling and fielding ultimately proved decisive, as they claimed their fourth win in six games to maintain their leadership of the South Group.