EDGBASTON — Somerset secured a place in their third consecutive Vitality Blast final with a tense five-wicket victory over Lancashire Lightning in the first semi-final of a sun-drenched Finals Day. In a high-stakes clash defined by explosive batting and nerve-shredding tension, it was the powerful blade of Tom Kohler-Cadmore, whose magnificent 81 from 44 balls, that ultimately steered the West Country outfit to victory with just four balls to spare.
Chasing a formidable target of 168 set by Lancashire, Somerset’s innings was built almost exclusively around their marquee overseas signing. Kohler-Cadmore’s knock, a brutal yet calculated assault featuring 7 fours and 5 sixes, provided the bedrock of the chase. He found a crucial partner in Tom Abell (26), with the pair adding 74 for the third wicket to wrestle back momentum after the early loss of both openers.
The victory was a testament to Somerset’s composure under pressure, a quality honed through their recent Finals Day experiences. Captain Lewis Gregory, who hit the winning runs, praised his team's resilience: "It's never easy in these situations, but the belief in this group is incredible. We've been here before, and that experience counts for a lot when the pressure is on."
Lancashire Post a Competitive Total
After being put into bat, Lancashire’s innings was a tale of two halves. They were brilliantly restricted by a disciplined Somerset bowling attack in the powerplay, with Josh Davey and Jake Ball bowling impeccable lines to leave the Lightning stuttering at 35 for 2 after the first six overs. The key wicket of Phil Salt, caught brilliantly by a diving Will Smeed off the bowling of Craig Overton for just 11, was a massive early blow for the Red Rose.
However, the middle order staged a impressive recovery. Skipper Keaton Jennings anchored the innings with a vital 45, but it was the late flurry from Luke Wells that truly gave Lancashire a fighting chance. Wells bludgeoned an unbeaten 37 from just 19 deliveries, including three massive sixes in the final two overs, to propel his side to a competitive 167 for 7. It was a total that felt par, but one that required a complete batting performance to chase.
Key contributions with the ball for Somerset included:
- Craig Overton: 2 for 28 from his 4 overs
- Jake Ball: 1 for 24, excellent in the powerplay
- Lewis Gregory: 2 for 33, claiming key middle-order wickets
The Kohler-Cadmore Show
Somerset's reply did not start according to plan. The dangerous Tom Banton was dismissed by Luke Wood in the second over, and Will Smeed followed soon after, leaving the score at a precarious 27 for 2. The responsibility fell squarely on the shoulders of Tom Kohler-Cadmore, and the former Yorkshire man embraced it completely.
He took a particular liking to the spin of Tom Hartley, smashing him for three sixes in a single over to completely shift the momentum of the game. His partnership with Abell was clinical, mixing sharp running with calculated boundary-hitting. Even after Abell departed, holing out to long-on, Kohler-Cadmore continued his assault, seemingly taking his side to the brink of victory before he was finally caught in the deep off Saqib Mahmood with 19 still needed from 13 balls.
Reflecting on his match-winning innings, Kohler-Cadmore said: "I just tried to keep it simple, watch the ball and hit it. We lost a couple early, so it was about building a partnership with Tom Abell and then giving ourselves a chance at the end. The lads finished it off brilliantly."
A Nervy Finish and Final Redemption
Kohler-Cadmore's dismissal set up a grandstand finish. With 19 required from 12 balls, the pressure was back on Somerset. The experience of Lewis Gregory and the power of Ben Green proved decisive. They cleverly targeted the shorter boundary, picking up vital boundaries in the penultimate over from Luke Wood. Needing 7 from the final over, bowled by Saqib Mahmood, Gregory sealed the deal with a boundary, sparking wild celebrations among the Somerset faithful.
"It's a tough one to take. I thought we fought back really well with the bat to get to 167, and then again with the ball at the end. But TKC played a fantastic innings. Sometimes you just have to hold your hands up."
Looking Ahead to the Final
The victory books Somerset's place in their third consecutive Blast final, a remarkable achievement of consistency in the unpredictable format of T20 cricket. They will be hoping it is third time lucky, having fallen at the final hurdle in the previous two years against Essex and Hampshire respectively.
Their performance against Lancashire demonstrated all the hallmarks of a champion side: a disciplined bowling unit, fielding excellence, and a batting lineup with the power and depth to chase down any total. With Tom Kohler-Cadmore in such devastating form and a squad brimming with big-game experience, Somerset will be confident of finally lifting the trophy and ending their long wait for T20 glory.