Tom Banton and Kohler-Cadmore Lead Somerset to Vitality Blast 2024 Finals Day Victory
Tom Banton’s explosive 75 off 43 balls and Tom Kohler-Cadmore’s well-timed 63 off 43 balls powered Somerset to 17 runs victory over Northamptonshire, secured a spot in the Finals Day of the Vitality Blast 2024.
At a sold-out Wantage Road, Banton exploited a frequently misfiring Northamptonshire attack, smashing five sixes and six fours as Somerset amassed an imposing 215 for three.
Key Performances and Match Analysis
Somerset 215 for 3 (Banton 75, Kohler-Cadmore 63)
Northamptonshire 198 for 5 (Willey 57)
Simerset won by 17 runs.
Match Analysis
After first finding it difficult to get going, Tom Kohler-Cadmore found his rhythm and amassed 63 off just 43 balls with two fours and five sixes. Banton was the dominant partner in this 11.3-over stand.
In order to keep the hosts in the game, Steelbacks skipper David Willey led a valiant run chase, scoring 57 off just 39 deliveries (two fours, four sixes). Justin Broad, Saif Zaib, and Ricardo Vasconcelos all provided solid support for Willey. However, with Lewis Gregory, the captain of Somerset, taking three wickets for 35, the aim eventually proved to be unachievable as they finished 17 runs short.
Willey had earlier struck in the second over after Will Smeed (6) was caught behind, but after making a string of wide legside deliveries, Willey and Ben Sanderson both gave Somerset uncontested runs.
Banton nearly holed out as the ball hung up in the wind, but he demonstrated his resolve early on by hammering Willey past the covers. Nevertheless, he hammered the following over deep point and smashed one down the ground, bringing Somerset’s powerplay to a 49-point deficit.
Gus Miller did not position himself to take an easy lead off a leading edge from Kohler-Cadmore on 7, as severe winds made it challenging to evaluate high catches.
Banton, however, had little trouble finding the boundary and reached his half-century off only 31 balls after punishing Freddie Heldreich for a loose over with two consecutive sixes over deep midwicket.
Finally finding his rhythm, Kohler-Cadmore blasted a huge six over long off and then two more boundaries as Australian overseas spinner Ashton Agar gave up 23 off a costly over. The following over saw two more sixes from Kohler-Cadmore, with Justin Broad on the receiving end this time.
When Banton tried to hit Saif Zaib for six, he played some outstanding boundary defence, which ultimately led to his departure. Broad first held onto the ball and then threw it to George Bartlett, who stepped over the rope to complete the catch.
Despite a solid plea for a stumping, Kohler-Cadmore was spared because the third umpire decided that the delivery was a no-ball because the keeper’s gloves were in front of the stumps. After hitting the free ball for a six, the hitter dutifully reached his half-century off of 38 balls. He then lifted Agar off the ground for another maximum. To ultimately remove the Somerset man, Zaib had to make an amazing diving catch at deep midwicket; Sanderson finally added a wicket to his tally.
In the final 3.4 overs, Lewis Gregory (20) and Sean Dickson (33) shared a partnership of 44 runs, with the captain capping the innings with a daring reverse ramp off White for six.
With the rain continuing, Northamptonshire started their innings and lost George Bartlett to a chip to midwicket in Craig Overton’s opening over. Against Josh Davey, however, Willey shown genuine intent as he knocked him to the ground for four and sent him over long-off for six.
Vasconcelos was deftly manipulating the ball despite suffering a fractured hand, blasting Jake Ball for six as Northamptonshire concluded the powerplay on 52 for one. After giving Overton a straight six and spinning Gregory over a superb leg into the Wellingborough Road gardens, Willey got the fans to start singing.
After a sluggish start, Broad (29) found his rhythm, scooping Ben Green for six and four off successive balls and lifting the next delivery for another boundary. Vasconcelos (30) was caught at fine leg off Gregory.
Ten overs ahead of Somerset at 92 for two, the Steelbacks were still behind the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern equation. In an attempt to keep the scoreboard moving, Broad reverse swept Roelof van der Merwe for four and six, but the ball landed tamely, allowing Gregory to make an easy return catch.
Zaib (32) took up the baton and, after Willey reached his half-century off 35 balls, he sent a Green delivery over fine leg and sliced across the field with amazing accuracy.
Despite sustaining a knock to the helmet, Zaib swung Gregory high over fine leg for six and then became Gregory’s third wicket when he skied a catch to mid-on as Northamptonshire began the final five overs needing 79 to win.
Willey persisted in applying pressure, sending Ball tumbling to the ground before he was apprehended on the cover boundary. Despite smashing a four and two sixes off the last over, Agar (28*) saw his efforts in futile as Northamptonshire lost by 17 runs.
