Somerset
Blast Quarter Final Here We Go at Headingley
By Grockle
July 15 2026
It's a trip to Yorkshire we probably mostly did not expect. The boys are there on merit and on a roll for the second half. Can they win? Most certainly. Can we lose also most certainly. Tom Abell and Tom Banton are both available and the strange thing is that that creates more problems than it solves. the team will be interesting. Jonny Bairstow has decide to bat after winning the toss and we go before the World Cup Semi. The prize? Finals Day on Satruday. If not Metro50 starts on Tuesday. Go well Boyz
Blast Quarter Final - v Yorkshire @ Headingley Wednesday 15 July 2026
The reigning champions do get to the quarter finals when it wasn't at all likely a month ago. We are here and we have the same chance as everyone else. Yorkshire have won the toss and will bat first.
The Somerset side is;
Smeed, Rew T (wk), TKC, Rew J, Banton, Gregory (c), Sams, Overton, Goldsworthy, Meredith, Ball
I think I would have gone with this side. It is pretty much where we are and I was wondering if Tom Abell was there or there abouts but possibly not 100%. Jack Leach has missed out because Tom Banton has been made available. Dom Bess is in this side so that is a lovely aspect for us.
Lyth and Moeen Ali will open against Craig Overton and Lyth goes to the boundary over the bowler's head with the second ball. Lyth goes back to back but after one more single he gets Ali to waft and Thomas Rew takes the catch - 9 for 1 (target 1 achieved) as Will Luxton comes in to replace him.
10 for 1 after 1 and Riley Meredith takes the second (I wish he wouldn't I have to admit). His first is over pitched and goes for four and that shows what I know as that is all he goes for. Lyth is not messing about though as he sixes Overton at the start of the third. He gets walloped in this one with 19 runs coming off it with a six and 3 fours.
Jake Ball takes the 4th. He starts with the home side on 33 for 1 and he goes for 5 before he strangles Luxton down the leg side 38 for 2 as Luxton goes for 17 from 13. Out comes Jonny Bairstow at the end of the 4th and he will be in a game with Riley who changes ends for the 5th. THIS is the partnership to break and Meredith is looking to keep them honest and he bowls Bairstow for 1 from 4 at 41 for 3. Excellent ball from the Aussie. He's bowled 2 overs and has 1 for 7. Looks like Jonny inside edged onto his pads.
Craig moves to the Kirkstall Lane End so see if he can do something a little better from that end after getting some tap. George Hill is the next man in. At the end of the 'Powerplay' Yorks have reached 45 for 3 with Lyth on 24 from 3 and Hill on 3. We would have taken that.
Lewis Gregory bowls for the first time in his return to the side after 2 games when he didn't. Lyth goes up and over extra cover to bring up the 50 with a four halfway through the 7th over. A quick single nearly gets a run out but we hardly ever hit when it's important to be honest. The skipper goes for 7 off his first.
We then go to our usual plan as Lewis Goldsworthy brings the spin into the game for the 8th and he holds them to 5 at 58 for 3 - a good solid first from the young guy. He is followed by Daniel Sams who starts with the 9th. Lyth goes down the pitch and over the boundary for six as I see the boundary ad for Worksop College at a cricket stadium in Leeds - they must have more money than they had when I was at school down the road from them and we were beating them 24-3 at rugby.
The 9th goes for 11 moving to 69 for 3. Lyth moves into the 40s and we'd like to see the back of him. Somerset continue with the spinner and Lyth takes him for a big six over wide long on first ball. Lewis comes back well with a dot. Hill also is up the wicket to go for four over extra cover and they move to 80 for 3. Lewis keeps his head and holds the bats to singles as they move to 82 for 3 as we start the second half of the innings.
The skipper is back for the 11th and Lyth goes to 50 from 31 at 83 for 3. A squirted edge goes past the infield to the boundary for four and we could do with seeing the back of Adma Lyth as the two Yorkshire bats clock up a 50 partnership off 35 balls (51 runs).
93 for 3 with 9 overs to go as Jake returns for the 12th and the bowler keeps them below 3 figures keeping them at 99 for 3. Sams is back and he gets Hill with his 3rd ball as he bottom edges the ball to Rew at 19 with 99 for 4. In comes the big Matthew Revis and he might be a worry for us. He takes a single and the 100 arrives in the 13th. Dan ends it with 2 overs 1 for 13 at 101 for 4.
Craig O will bowl out with the 14th and there is a sharp single which is almost a problem. They get in. Lyth then tries to pull COve and gets a top edge off one that climbs on the bat. He is caught by Meredith sweeping around past the keeper as he goes for 64 from 40. 105 for 5 as in comes Dom Bess and he keeps him in his crease as he retrieves the ball and rolls it back at the wickets with a grin on his face. Craig finishes with 2 for 36 which is a decent comeback.
Sams takes the 15th and luckily gets away with a short and wide one that nearly kills umpire Middlebrook but is collected on the boundary. With 5 to go Sams has kept them to 110 for 5 and they will have to go at it for the last 30 balls. Not sure what a par score is at Leeds.
Jake Ball has the 16th which will be his third and he has gone for 11. After a single he has Bess caught at Long On by CraigO going for the boundary. Dom goes for 3 from 7 at 111 for 6. Logan van Beek is the next man in as Ball finishes his third with 2 for 14 - excellent spell from the man.
113 for 6 with 4 to go as Sams will bowl out with the next. He has 19 from his first 3 and Revis looks to push the score but sends the ball straight to Overton on the Long On boundary for 7 at 115 for 7. 9 from 11 from Matt Revis and he is replaced by Tye as Sams bowls him a wide. His next is a clearance of Craig and he gets six - just enough. 123 for 7 and Sams ends with 2 for 29.
18 balls to go as Riley is back for his last 2. Either the captain or Jake will bowl the one in the middle. He has 2 overs 1 for 7 presently - no notes from me!! Tye wants a shoulder high wide and doesn't get it. But he gets a full toss which he sixes so he's then happy. He has hit 14 from 5 and he hits 2 into NoMans Land. 134 for 7 at the end of the 18th Riley has 1 for 18 from 3.
Jake takes the 19th to bowl him out and Tye bottom edges to Rew and he is out for 16 from 8 at 135 for 8. Ball goes to 3 for 14!! Ali is in takes the single and van Beek hammers the ball for four. The same bat gets a thin edge for another four and Ball will finish with a six from Hassan Ali and 3 for 30 off his 4. It takes Yorkshire to 151 for 8. He still took 3 wickets.
Meredith has van Beek caught for 12 by Smeed off the first ball at 151 for 9 Chohan is the last man in and he hooks him for four between two fielders. A very important boundary. He nearly has Chohan with a very good yorker but he gets some bt on it. They take the single. A high legside one is not given by the umpire and so is a dot. Ali comes across his stumps and gets a four and trhe last ball lets them get a single bye to go tp 161 for 9. Meredith has 2 for 27 after his spell. It's a par score for Yorkshire but they have to get into the batting early.
Excellent bowling from All the seamers with Jake Ball outstanding even though he got some tap at the end. It's still a game. Look at it again after 6 overs.
The Reply
So here we go people. I hope they would not break up the present first wicket partnership and they haven't as Will Smeed and Thomas Rew walk out to face Hassan Ali from the Rugby Stand end. Will takes the first and he is off the mark with the third ball down to Third. Rew is also off the mark. That puts Smeed on strike and he pulls the bowler for six to take Somerset to 8 for 1. Thomas Rew faces Hill and his first ball of the second is slapped to van Beek and it is 8 for 1 as he goes for 1 from 2. Not what we really wanted.
In comes Tom Banton and every game he now plays is the last white ball he will play for Somerset this season as he has moved to a white ball contract until 2028 at least. Bants is off the mark with a single to the onside. They need 150 after the last ball of the second as they think Smeed had an inside edge. He didn't and they are 12 for 1.
Andrew Tye has the job of the third and Smeed sends the ball to the boundary with a nice ball through the covers for four from his second. He swings and doesn't miss it and edges to the first slip and is caught by Lyth. He goes for 1 from not many - it was very loose. In comes James Rew at 18 for 2 and that is the score after 3. A few worries in the supporters one would imagine.
Hill stays on and the new pair struggle against him as Hill only goes for 3 from his second. Hassan Ali takes the 5th and they are still having problems getting them away and a third wicket goes down as James whips one to Dom Bess who takes an excellent one handed catch in the covers after a 10 yard dash. RewSnr goes for 1 from 6 and it is 26 for 3 as TKC arrives. The only bat scoring at the moment is Will Smeed and he hasn't gone off at a dash as we only have 26 after 5 overs. This is going to be difficult from here.
Hill is staying on and Yorkshire have this game by the scruff of the neck. It is becoing their game to lose as we have lost the momentum at the start of our innings and have yet to get up to any kind of speed. Smeed one hands an edge to Moeen Ali off Hill for 21 off 17 balls at 28 for 4. Hill has 2 for 7 and we are deep in the mire with this one. Out comes Goldsworthy to finish the 'Powerplay' (hopefully one has to say cautiously). After 6 it is 29 for 4 and it is a big task to win from here.
Revis takes the 7th and he pulls a four off him from his second. Tye takes the 8th and we have a slight pause while Lewis is tested after a hit on the helmet. He seems fine but it takes time for them to sort out the helmet test it seems and Bairstow is huddling his side to team talk them. It seems it is all to do with Golder's head!!
Play continues and we have to hope he's not out first ball with the new lid. After 8 overs it is 38 for 4 and we need 124 to win. It is not looking on I'm afraid as Logan van Beek comes on and bowls TKC for 2 from 8. 38 for 5, 1 ball into the 9th. Oh dear. The ball came back quite a way as Lewis Gregory prepares to face. He hits the first for four.
After 9 we have 45 for 5 as they bring George Hill back for his fourth at 2 for 8. We do not pass 50 in the first half as Hill finishes with 4 overs 2 for 12 - probably a match winning spell from Hill.
With 10 overs to go we need 113 runs to win as Lewis Goldsworthy flicks the ball over Bess for six to bring up the 50 at 55 for 5 off Revis in his second. Goldsworthy gets a high outside edge goes for 19 into the hands of Hill for 19 at 58 for 6 off Revis. Sams is in and it is just a case of asking how close we can get because we are not going to get to this as they have ripped the heart out of the batting attack. Lewis Gregory can't farm over 100 from the batting left without a considerable contribution from his next two bowling all rounders and that is a massive demand from the captain and his partners.
Van Beek takes the 12th and swings and misses at his first. His second goes way into the air and Tye takes the catch at 59 for 7. Sams is out for 0 after 3 balls and we are just waiting for the end now. Craig Overton is in and so there will be some fight as he takes a single. Van Beek has 2 for 9 and we are 60 for 7 still needing 102. Not going to happen I'm afraid.
The pair take a few from van Beek in his third (the 14th) - but it's only 13 which is not enough for what Somerset need. The skipper has 21 from 19 and Overton has 9 from 6 as Ali returns for the 15th. Gregory goes high but not handsome and he is caught by Tye at 82 for 8 with 22 from 21. Riley is in and he gets a four to take it to needing 76 from 30 balls as Tye bowls the 16th. Craig sixes him off his second ball. Then he takes a single. Riley is swinging and missing - not a lot else he can do to be fair.
A leg bye gives Craig the strike with 24 balls to go as van Beek bowls and he sends the first for four. That brings up the 100 for 8 and he adds a second four from the next. His third is chipped over the infield as Craig moves to 29. They need 54 from 20 after a dot ball. He takes the single to keep on strike for the 17th. They take the single - a run is a run. 51 from 18 with 2 wickets left. Meredith gets a single off Ali. A Revis misfield gives Craig a straight four. He then takes 2 with good boundary fielding from Hill and Tye. The next is a four and COve is not finished yet. They take the single. The last is a dot as Ali finishes with 3 for 30.
So two overs left as Tye takes the 19th. They take 2. 37 from 11. Then a straight four 33 from 10. six from the third. 27 from 9 as the bowler goes to 53 from 22 balls. The next is a dot. and then there is a four that just came off the fielder. He takes the single to be on strike. 140 for 8 and they need 22 from 6 balls.
Revis (1 for 23) takes the last. The first is a no ball smashed from six. The umpire is checking for a waist high no ball. It's a legal ball. 16 from 5. The next is a wide. 15 from 5. He hits the next one for six. They need 9 from 4!! COve 70 from 27. Ball 3 - another six!! 3 from 3!! 6, 1, 6 , 6. Ball 4 and they come back from 2 a brilliant save from Will Luxton to save the four. The game is tied. at 161 for 8.
I do not belieive this. Craig has brought us from the nowhere winniing by 2 wickets He has hit 79 not out from 30 balls with 8 fours and 5 sixes!! Riley Meredith was not out at the non strikers end. 4 from 2
We were absolutely dead and buried except Craig does not understand when he is beaten - the highest score from a 9th wicket bat in T20 history. Give a mention to Riley who had to stay with him. 82 for 8 with 5 to go!!! How did that happen?
WE ARE IN THE FINALS AGAIN!!!!
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:07:17:17:11:12 by Grockle.
The Preview is here for those who want it
QF Preview
The game will be the one covered y SKY and threfore there will be no livestream I assume. It will also be moved forward to 4:30 in order to not clash with the later World Cup Semi Final between England and Argentina
We will cover the game if we can here as it progresses and I am sure there will be radio coverage
The squad named is;
Rew T (wk), Smeed, Rew J, TKC, Thomas, Gregory (c), Abell, Sames, Goldsworthy, Vaughan, Overton, Meredith, Shaw, Leach, Ball
A squad that keeps growing as the injured return so we welcome back to the list Tom Abell. The question is whether he is fully ready to return to the first eleven and then the problem is who does he replace if he is? They've included all our spin options and the only seamer not named who could be probably available is Alfie Ogborne though that is probably because he will be working on the issue he had last month before the Metro 50 and CC1 games he will be needed for before the summer is out.
The eleven who walk out tomorrow willhave the early hopes of the county. They pulled this one back after a pretty messy middle section of group games. We know they have the capability to go all the way but can they keep it going? Get the prayer mats out tonight people and then what will be will be.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:07:15:11:42:35 by Grockle.
Rew T (wk)
Smeed
Rew J
TKC
Abell
Gregory
Overton
Sams
Thomas
Meredith
Leach
Though they may not go for two spinners, in which case one of Thomas or Leach will be replaced by, er, I don't know, Ball...? Or they may choose Vaughan...
Without Abell the all-rounders start one too early for me...
Will they then release him for the Finals Day if we get there I wonder?
It does cause issues about the spin option because we seem to have been happier when the spinner can also bat, though maybe it makes it easier to include Jack as if he is batting something has gone pretty wrong with the top 8.
The other issue with this is, I'm personally very much a 'play the side that got you there' kinda supporter ever since the 1999 final when an injured Graham Rose was returned to the team for the final after playing no more than 1 game in the earlier rounds. That meant a young Steffan Jones (Ibelieve) did not play after working very hard to get us there. It made little difference in the end because we simply did not turn up against Gloucestershire but always felt it was unfair.
For that reason there is a case for seriously considering the make-up of this side, though both the possible replacements did play in the early rounds and probably would have continued had they not been injured/ pulled away for England duty.
I though they hadn't got enough. I was wrong and the pitch was much harder than it looked. Our bats have not made any kind of progress with this total and Yorkshire are bowling in a way that we are not going to get anywhere near this score.
We have pushed the runs required below 3 figures with 7 to go at least.
No Birmingham for us and the last innings of Tom Banton in a Somerset shirt in 2026 was an edge behind off his second ball
Ho Hum - not much to write home about from the other top 5 to be honest.
Craig Overton should be knighed after that performance.
Absolutely stunning innings.
Grizzers
That was better than the Sean Dickson one and I never ever thought I'd see a chase that was better.
It beat me Glad it didn't beat Mr Overton
Obviously, counties with home limited over cup matches prepare the best possible wicket to suit their bowlers. Nevertheless, it was good to see Yorkshire get their comeuppance, after cynically importing a pre-prepared hybrid wicket for this match only, on the largest playing square in the entire country.
Nobody had told Craig anyway!
"I didn't see that coming..."
as we slipped to an unexpected but inevitable humiliating defeat. I had been following the commentary on a pocket radio while spending a few hours with my grandsons and it would have been unfair to continue to listen when the little fellows were much preoccupied with an imminent minor football match in America.
Half an hour later I checked the score and composed a new starting sentence for my posting on this site:
"I didn't see that coming..."
Of whom was it written...
He doth bestride the world like a colossus...
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2026:07:15:22:06:30 by Loyal of Lhasa.
The team's improvement in recent weeks is so praiseworthy - and initially so surprising -less so more recently.
I just assumed it would be a big defeat.
Ha, what do I know!
Astonishing, unlike England who went a goal up and then tried to defend for 30 minutes against Argentina. That went as well as many of us, at Hampset Cricket Club in Bath, expected...
Take a bow, Mr Overton, take a bow!!
That innings from Craig Overton will go down, and be talked about, as one of the great Somerset limited over innings.
In completely unconnected news (hello irony), it was surprising (is irony still a thing?) to note how the chants of easy, easy, easy and Yorkshire, Yorkshire, Yorkshire suddenly faded away as Craig O peppered the steaks sat in the western terrace.
Whatever happens at Egbaston on Saturday, that was an innings to recall and warm the heart and soul on long, dark, cold winters nights. An innings for the ages.
I was surprised that the PA announcer felt the need to try to rev up the crowd by telling them to chant "Yorkshire, Yorkshire" - something we can do without at cricket.
I felt sorry for Revis at the end - a bit like Stokes being hit for successive sixes in the World Cup.
Well done to Meredith for somehow staying with Craig towards the end.
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
I did, however, thanks to that now old-fashioned thing called Sky+, spend a lovely hour or so later in the evening watching Somerset's innings back, whilst much of the country was being made miserable by some football match or other.
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
[www.youtube.com]
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:07:16:22:11:47 by sfwithers.
No decision has yet been taken on his participation in Saturday`s semi-final against Somerset, but an actual break, rather than just bruising, does make it more unlikely.
Opener Lynn is Northamptonshire`s top run-getter this year with 475 runs at 57.77.
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
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