Cricket Smeed stars as Somerset secure T20 crown for third time

SOMERSET lifted the Vitality Blast trophy for the third time after beating Hampshire by six wickets in a pulsating final at Edgbaston.

- By BRIANHALFORD

Hampshire, put in, piled up 194-6, equalling the highest score in a Blast final, built around a buccaneering second-wicket stand of 97 in 59 balls by Toby Albert (85 from 48 balls) and James Vince (52, 34 balls).

Somerset had to pull off the best Blast final run-chase to take the trophy - and they did, reaching 195-4 with six balls to spare. Will Smeed struck 94 from 58 balls and the middle order helped him crunch 76 from the last five overs, captain Lewis Gregory crowning the chase with an unbeaten 18 from five balls, to break the Hawks’ hearts.

Smeed said: “It’s unbelievable to have won the trophy. I think the key to our success is that we have got match-winners all down the list and we have a pretty settled side over the last few years so there is a lot of role clarity.

“I was pleased to score some runs tonight and, to be honest, was never thinking about a century. The only focus was on winning the game. The goal whenever you go out to chase in T20 is to come back not out and with the job done, so I was disappointed to get out before the end, but Lewis went in and smacked it, so I couldn't be happier.