The 2024 Blast Finals Day
By Grockle
September 14 2024
So here we are again. Four years in a row and defending champions, playing the same side we played in the semi last year with Surrey having a bloody nose from Thursday at Taunton and out for Somerset blood. Will we miss Matt Henry and Ish Sodhi this year or are we ready for this even though it's been a month plus since the T20 juggernaut rolled into the knockout phase. No Tom Banton for definite... some interesting options besides. James Rew will probably play but who will keep?
The Vitality Blast Finals @ Edgbaston Saturday 14 September 2024
It's been a regular event for Somerset in the 2020s with varying levels of success. However we are the present champions and no side has won twice in a row. An all 'Southern' group foursome turnout today with our closest rivals Gloucestershire here for the first time. We face our usual and most formidable foes at 11am in the first semi final. Surrey will want this badly after the phenomenal performance that saw them fall at Taunton by 111 to the guile and sheer class of "Archie Leach"... They were well and truly 'Cary'd' (Bristolians and 'Fish called Wanda' fans may get that one
THE SEMI V SURREY
We arrive with a squad of 14 for this tournament. Tom Banton will not be available not suprisingly after his heroics with one leg on Thursday. It isn't suprising that he would not be able to bat and field today. James Rew is introduced into the squad to make up the 14. The Squad is;
Lewis Gregory (who we would expect to bowl here), Will Smeed, Sean Dickson, James Rew, TKC, RvdM, Lewis Goldsworthy, Ben Green, Tom Abell, Craig Overton, Kasey Aldridge, Jake Ball, Josh Davey, Jack Leach
The discussions will be about who opens (probably TKC), who keeps (probably Rew), which seamers will join Overton and Davey (your guess is as good as mine though I assume Green will play as the talisman) and who and how many slow options will we choose - specialist spinner in Jack?
If it is a case of certainty then Smeed, TKC, Abell, Dickson, Green, Gregory, Overton and Rew will walk out for the first game. The other 3? We'll have to wait and see.
Somerset have won the toss and will field. The side is;
Rew, Smeed, TKC, Abell, Dickson, Gregory, Green, Overton, RvdM, Davey, Ball
Overton starts from the City End against Lawrence and Sibley and the start is frenetic to say the least - atleast from Lawrence. James Rew is keeping but Surrey take the honours for the first as they go to 16 from the first with 11 of those to Lawrence and the rest in a 'wide' boundary
Josh takes the new ball at the Pavilion End. Lawrence flashes hard and gets away with it and then drives past Gregory who quite obviously does not dive to save a four. Dodgy back? However, Josh comes back with one that Lawrence does not get past Abell and Surrey are 26 for 1 after 2 with Lawrence gone for 19.
A better second from COve goes for a mere 2 and we pull if back into sensible territory at 30 for 1. However, Josh provides the first six to Sibley of all people in the middle of his second and the Londoners move into the 40s. They pass 50 with too little trouble in the 5th as Pope gets into his stride quickly and Somerset finish the 5th with a deficit of 55.
Jake Ball takes the 6th and the score moves on to 62 after which we introduce Roelof early as Sibley passes Pope!! RvdM owes us a good game (as does Will Smeed) he starts with a decent return of 4 which is a decent beginning. Gregory takes the 8th with James Rew struggling to get the length of the ball well behind the stumps - big ask for him today. The skipper doesn't need any help with the next one though as he bowls Pope at 69 for 2. In comes Smith and out goes Smith the very next ball clean bowled and LG Senior is on a hatrick at 69 for 3. It's not to be but it wasn't all that far away.
71 for 3 after 8 and we would have taken that after the first couple. They continue with RvdM as Burns joins Sibley in the middle and they move the score to 78. Lewis takes us to the halfway point in the innings. He gives away the first boundary since the end of the Powerplay so we have tightened up considerably and Surrey move to 86 after 10
The 100 arrives off Ben Green in the 12th and they finish it at 104. Then we get into silly run time as Sibley takes a suicidal run to Lewis Gregory and Burns keeps running past the crease as the stumps are broken well before he is in. 105 for 4 asnd in comes Laurie Evans as Roelof gets us back in the game
Gregory returns for the 14th at 110 for 4 and he has Sibley going big.. into Dickson's hands on the Hollies boundary. 111 for 5. Tom Curran arrives to a set of Somerset boos. He is reviewed second ball but there is bat deviation so he survives. 111 for 5 after 14. Jake changes ends for his second and comes in from the City End. He gets Curran to play on with a slow ball 114 for 6. In comes Jordan. 115 with 5 to go is a hell of a lot better than any predictions would have been after 3.
Josh returns for the 16th and nearly has Evans first ball as the ball just doesn't get up. They then nearly give it away taking a second on a sprinting Davey followed by a very difficult infield chance. It's all happening here as they move to 121 for 6 as we see Gregory finishing off his spell from the City. 124 for 6 and the skipper puts in a spell of 3 for 15 from his 4.
With 2 to go we see Davey also change ends to the City and Jordan fires one out to the hands of Craig O to move the wickets to 7 as Clark arrives to partner Evans. Josh has his yorker going as Surrey eye a total over 150. But they fire another into the outfild and RvdM takes it with safe hands off the 70 mile an hour Davey slow ball 144 for 8 and Jake takes the last. They try two as Steel calls them through and they make it...just. They go high and Abell takes it in front of the Pavilion 146 for 9. In comes Worral. But Ball has his slow ball working well Steel gets one to the boundary and moves them over 150 to 153 for 9. Is that enough?
We've seen lowish scores defended here - we did it twice last year. So the runs on the board are the ones we have to get!! Well done the bowlers, now the bats have to do their job. Brilliant from Lewis, 3 good wickets for Josh (34 runs) Good from both Jake and Roelof they have paid their debt. Now Will, Now Tom K-C can we have yours as well?
The Reply
Will and TKC come out to start the reply - Good decision, it would have been a hell of an ask for James Rew to open in what is only his second T20 game. Worrall bowls the first ball and TKC is on his way back LBW for a big fat zero. Tom Abell replaces him as Worrall fllies in weith venom in his hand. He gets off the mark with a glance and we wonder which Smeed we will see this afternoon. A waft outside off tends to suggest he won't be here for long. 1 for 1 after 1. Tom Curran is on from the Pavilion and must be keen to kick some Somerset batting backside. His first goes to the boundary from Abell.
But the good news does not continue as Tom gets a leading edge and perishes close in to take us to 7 for 2. In comes Rew with a big job to do and it gets bigger as Smeed wafts at Worrall outside off stump and goes with the score still on 7. In comes Sean Dickson with an absolulte mountain to climb to get any further today
Jordan Clark comes on for the last over of the Powerplay as we survive into it at 20 for 3. Both these bats are not the big scorers at the start of their spelss. We can only pray they can weather it and start to push the score on in the hope that the tail can hit the wining boundaries. It is not looking all that hopeful presently but it's early doors and we do have batting to come.
Surrey also introduce spin as soon as the Powerplay is done as Cam Steel bowls the 8th. Somerset move towards 50 at 48 for 3 but they are by no means out of the woods yet. Lawrence makes it double spin for the 9th and a lovely little glance past the keeper to the boundary from Dickson brings up the 50.
The batting pair are looking to move it on a little and we turn for the second part of the innings with 71 for 3 with Rew on 25 from 23 and Dickson on 36 from 27.
Sean is looking to make a statement as Steel changes ends. He hits him for conseciutive sixes and Rew also scoops a four to take the score to 89 after 11 with 18 off the over. This means Clark returns to the Pavilion and a two takes Dickson to 50 off 30 balls with 5 fours and 3 sixes. Well played 'Mr Finals'
The 100 arrives with a Rew six to square l and we need 54 from 8 - 9 an over. There is some superb outfielding (especially from Lawrence)trying to keep these two in check as Rew looks to go up a level and we move to 113 with 7 to go.
Curran comes back to try and do what he does and break this up. He holds them to 120 but we have moved to less than a run a ball required. Rew is running Dickson ragged as they look to take twos from most balls they connect with. Dickson decides that the way to stop that is to hit boundaries and we move to 128 for 3 with 5 to go. We need 26 from 30
Rew goes to 49 as we move to 135 for 3 needing 19 from 24 balls. Tom Curran changes ends. James goes to 50 from 38 balls with 4 fours and 2 sixes. 139 for 3 with 3 to go. It is not there yet but it really is ours to lose from here. We need 15.
Jordan is bowling from the Pavilion so nothing is certain yet. Singles will do it and we ought to have faith that these two know that more than others. It's Jordan dots v Somerset runs at the moment and the tension is there on both sides. James drops it a little with a masssive six into the covers. We need 7. He follows that with a wide four to the Hollies and we need 3 from 12.
Clark is coming in from the City and still fighting. 3 balls and no runs. Dickson goes aerial and dies caught in the covers for a brilliant 87 from 57 caught by Lawrence at 151 for 4. Their 144 partnership from 98 balls is the highest partrnership ever at a Finals day and has won this game. In comes Lewis with 9 balls to get 3. He wins it with a flyswat for 6. We are in the final.
And its the one you all REALLY wanted :-) I't GLOUCESTERSHIRE!!
THE FINAL
At 6:45 tonight the West Country "Cider Final" returns to your lives after a 25 year lay off. The C&G Final of 1999 at Lord's was the last time these two met in a national final though this is the First T20 version.
The bookies and people around here think it is Gloucestershire's year. We shall see I suppose.
Gloucestershire have won the toss and will bowl first. Both teams are unchanged, whether that means they bat in the same order we will also see.
Here we go then everyone, strap in and hold on!!
Lots of flamey things and fireworks as the sides come out and Will Smeed and TKC try again as Payne opens from the Pavilion End. There's a lot of crowd noise and Gloucester think they have Tom first ball again but he does get off the mark next ball. Will gets a run as well Whoopee! The first over goes for 4. A solid over from Payne - not so sure about the batting partneship but they are still there. Shaw is getting a bit of swing from the City but the first boundary of the Final goes to Will to the Hollies. The second goes for 9 as TKC gets his first boundary as well.
Payne continues TKC puts him into the pavilion. A four nearly comes next but there is a brilliant piece of fielding from Charlesworth to save the boundary. He finishes the over with another six to the other side of the Pavilion. This over ends with 28 on the board and TKC goes to 20 from 12. Will looks to move on as well but the shot is lazy to Matt Taylor, wide ball he wafts at and is caught by Tom Smith He goes for 8 and ends his 2024 season.
28 for 1 and in comes Tom Abell to help take his side to 33 for 2 but the last ball of the over is slow to TKC and he toe ends it and is caught by Price - he nearly got it wrong and stood off it too much but he held on. Kohler-Cadmore goes for 21. In comes James Rew as Shaw changes ends for the 5th and it ends with 39 on the board.
The last over of the Powerplay is given to Matt Taylor (and why not) and he keeps going as he fools Rew with a slower ball which he pops up to Bancroft. 42 for 3 which becomes 42 for 4 as Dickson is bowled by Ollie Price trying to reverse sweep his first ball. He won't be winning this one for us. 42 for 4 and out comes Lewis Gregory
Somerset stagger to 50 off the first ball of the 8th over bowled by Tom Price. It's not pretty and it's more abiout survival than confidence at the moment. It may well be Gloucestershire's night looking at the first part of this game.
After 10 it's 63 for 4 and there is a lot for Somerset to do if they hope to retain their title this evening. Both bats have 14 and the present champs nbeed as close to 100 in the second half to make a competitive game of this against a stromng 'Bristolian' batting line-up
The assessment is presently that we have missed out opening partnership tonight. The loss of Banton has been the loss of those 30/40 runs that add to the general scoring of the side. Our openers thoday have not filled that gap and they have left us missing runs when we are setting the score of the game. We did not miss it as much in the semi because we held Surrey in check but when we have to set the target we ARE missing that POWERPLAY 'EXTRA' that Smeed and Kohler-Cadmore have simply not provided. Without it we will come up short in the bowling department as we probably do not have the bowling attack to hold a batting side with a target in mind.
Tom goes big. But not big enough and he is caught on the boundary by Bancroft off Ollie Price for 19 at 86 for 5. In comes Ben Green and we are now asking players to play out of their comfort zones to keep us in this game. They need to consolidate around Gregory while also contributing to the score if we are going to get anywhere near a 130/150 score. With 7 overs to go 150 is probably beyond the bats we have left. Gloucestershire's slow men taking the pace off the ball will have more success than our pace men will in the chase for this title. With 6 overs to go we are still looking for that three figure score at 96 for 5.
The 100 arrives towards the end of the 15th with a 'swivel' four to the Wyatt Stand from Gregory which takes him into the 40s The over ends at 105 for 5. David Payne looks to put an end to the resistance as he has Green tries to pull him and plops the ball to Smith for 6. Daft I'm afraid. 105 for 6. In comes Craig Overton. If he stays in we still have a chance. However the first ball seemed to stop in the pitch and he also pops it up to Jack Taylor and we are done at 105 for 7 with Payne on a hatrick. RvdM is in to face it and is off the mark immediately
At least we have passed ythe Sussex score but by how much is a matter for debate. The target now is to be there for the 120th ball and see where we have managed to get to. With 3overs to go we have managed to get to 109 with 3 wickets in hand but only Ball and Davey to come
Shaw has the next over and he gets Roelof at the end of it with a despairing cut which is caught behind at 114 for a couple. In comes Davey on a hiding to nothing and the skipper still stranded short of his 50 (where he was two overs ago). He reaches that individual milestone with the next ball with 50 off 33 woith 3 fours and 2 sixes. Taylor ends with 3 for 18 - excellent figures.
Shaw takes the penultimate over at 119 for 8. Lewis goes high and is dropped - lucky but we are only getting singles when we need boundaries. Then he puts the ball straight down Ollie Price's throat from Payne and we are down to the last pair with 123 on the board. Jake Ball is not a big hitter but he keeps his end up and puts Josh on strike for the last one. Shaw to Davey who striaght drives him but he doesn't get a touch as it cannons into the stumps at the non striker's end. They run a single off the third and Ball dies courtesy of the hands of Ollie Price. Gloucestershire need 125.
The Reply
Craig starts off with 7 and then Josh from the Pavilion moves that to 10 and the first six comes in the next over from Bancroft. He continues with a ramped six off Daveyke him to 18 of the 24 scored in the 3rd. Meanwhile his partner Hammond has 5. The 4th moves the score to 28 without loss.
The are some chances but nothing gets a touch or goes to hand and we have no real leewya in the total we have set so Gloucestershire move onwards to 35 after 5 with the skipper coming on to bowl the last over of the Powerplay. Bancroft keeps finding gaps as he moves to 25 from 20 as his side moves to cover one third of the total needed in one quarter of the overs available. They shold do it with about 3 overs left at least. The only chance Somerset have is taking wickets and they have none at the moment as this pair find the boundary once again. Hammond finds the gap again and the 50 is just one ball away at the end of the 6th. I may have been a little optimistic about how long Somersert will keep them out there. It could be over in 10 more.
Roelof sees the 50 come up with his first ball of the 7th but success is not coming our way this evening and the Gloucester train to glory continues to puff along. Jake is introduced to also try and take the pace off the ball which he did quite well in the semi but he may not be as successful this evening - however he is our only real option at the other end. 53 for 0. His first goes into the higher tiers of the stand. Unfortuantely they know he is going to take the pace off so the slow ball does not fool them and they put it into the stratosphere. The options we need to win this one aren't there in this attack unfortunately.
Gloucestershire pass halfway in the 8th with a straight driven four to the Pavilion 64 for 0. It is uncertain what Lewis has left to try as Hammond smashes RvdM into the Wyatt and then a four into the Pavilion rope. It my be over very quickly. The 9th ends with 76 on the board without loss.
On comes Golden Arm and there is a review first ball.He didn't touch it but it's high and it was 'Umpire's Decision' so Bancroft stays in. The next ball does exactly what it usually does as it is dismissed for four to the Pavilion and they move to 80 before we have had 10 overs. They need 43 after Bens 10th and it is 90 for 0 by the end of the 11th.
Roelof takes the 12th from the Pavilion End for the first time today with Hammond now having passed Bancroft's 41 to move to 44. Neither has looked in any massive trouble though there have been moments. It is highly likely that this will be a 10 wicket win which means that Gloucestershire have only lost 2 wickets all Finals day -no mean feat one has to admit. The 100 arrives with a lofted Bancroft four that takes him to a very good 50 from 39 balls. It's nearly over people!!
This is going to be a comprehensive stuffing as they move to 112 in the 13th. They need 13 and they will get them without too much of a problem. We have been pretty extensively outplayed as we were in 1999 as well after a pretty ext3ensively good campaign then as well. Being beaten by a better side on the day is no real disaster. Unfortuantely Bancroft does not stay to celebrate the victory he has provided as he puts one into Will Smeeds bread basket on the boundary from Josh. Bracey arrives to finish it off with 12 to win.
That soon becoms 8 and then 7, then a scrambled 1 takes it to 6 at the end of the 14th. Ball takes the 15th and Bracey gives him a wicket ith a popped up close catch off a pretty nothing ball. A single takes it to 5 as Ollie Price gets off the mark. Another single takes it to 4 and a wide takes it to 3 followed by another to take it to 2. A straight six wins it.
Well done to Gloucestershire. The best team on the day outplaying both their opponents and beating us with 5 overs to spare.
Ahh well it was a nice dream and bits of it are still there for the taking.
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Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2024:09:18:22:35:45 by Grockle.
The idea of George Thomas coming in seems unlikely according to sources. They didn't pull him from his Glos 2s game and although he is highly likely to play in Nottingham the drive to get him in for Brum seems much more 'lukewarm'
The bowling still concerns most with Lewis G Senior seemingly being saved for Saturday while Davey, Greener, Kasey and Ball are looking for places with Craig but we need a 'Matt Henry' and many don't see where that is coming from.
The other question is... batting spinner? Please NOT RvdM but Lewis G Jr or Archie? Now there's a question. We'll be up to cover the semi in the hope of having to then cover the Final.
Optimism is there or there abouts but we were surprised last year by the team resilience and a Cider Final would be awesome 25 years on.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2024:09:12:13:00:33 by Grockle.
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
I wonder if the reported reluctance, viz George, is wholly related to his proposed move away from the club or whether there might also be fielding related concerns? He’s not the best in that area and given that neither Ball nor Davey are particularly mobile, then a side with all of those in it, plus maybe Leachy would hardly be the most mobile fielding side that SCCC have ever sent out? And it’s usually a bad (slow, low) pitch served up by Warks, meaning every run comes at a premium.
It is the 14 on duty for the quarter final, plus the expected selection of James Rew in place of the unfortunate Tom B. Will he be promoted to open, we ask, or Tom Kohler-Cadmore or Sean Dickson given that job?
Keep Dickson where he was last year.
The feeling is that George is to be released at the end of the season. Can't say that is anything like a universally welcomed decision but it would make inclusion tomorrow even more baffling.
James will play Not sure who will keep.
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
If you are going to be in Brum have a truly excellent day. If you are settling in to watch it then I'm sure the guys will feel the goodwill. If you are keeping track with Anthony on the radio then we'll try and fill in gaps as well.
Grockles will be with you via the forum and via updates on how its going via frontpage reports. Why am I telling you this at 4:42 in the morning? Because my alarm will go off in 18 mins and I'll be on my way to another Final "Field of Dreams"
However you are accessing another important bit of Somerset history... see you there 😁👍🏼
Just watched the Sport section on BBC Breakfast - not a mention of the Finals today! Spoke about the England decider but nothing about the domestic finals - instead spent ages on Football, again
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024:09:14:11:53:14 by Loyal of Lhasa.
I can fairly safely predict that Somerset will finish no lower than second in the three competitions.
And I'd rather like a Som v Glos final this evening.
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
I, sadly for me, have realised that I mustn't follow the game on line - I did for the start of the Surrey innings and thought then at the end of the Power Play it was going to be all over with a score of ~200 to chase so went out into the garden to cut the hedge. Came back in for a bit of lunch to catch the last couple of overs and a remarkable recovery.
Similarly the start of our innings and we were 3 down before I realised it might be better for me to finish the hedge - to come back in a few moments ago.
What shall I do during the Final?
Terrific innings by Sean Dickson and James Rew cool as a cucumber on his T20 debut for us.
Lewis's bowling figures speak for themselves. To get Pope & Smith in one over was a huge turning point.
Som. V Gloucs. is a tasty final. Would be nice to get the better for them for a change (this season).
Grizzers
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Were they referring to the performances of these four Brown Caps against Australia at Cardiff last night?
Reece Topley (0-40 from 3 overs); Sam Curran`s own 1-37 from 3 overs, plus 1 run with the bat; Will Jacks first out for 12 runs; Jamie Overton (dropped a dolly from Cameron Green in the closing overs). Good job the remaining seven England players came up to scratch.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024:09:14:20:52:28 by hantssabre.
If we are to be beaten in the final, far better though - imho - that Glos win this rather than Surrey or Sussex
We most surely missed Tom Banton today.
Easy to say with hindsight, but not sure we got our selection right. Will Smeed & RvdM come to mind.
Very much hope that Tom Abell & Craig are going to be ok for the last two Championship games.
Well done Gloucester. We were hugely outplayed today.
Grizzers
Agree with LoL, no worse than second in all three comps - obvs we want even better, but still admirable from our players and coaches.
Do we really think Tabell and Cove may be crocked?
Team will look very different next year - some have to be moved on and others given a chance.
"Those who cannot learn from the mistakes of the past are destined to repeat them."
The county has form in loosing key players at key times of the season to the ridiculous concept that a pre-match football kickabout, with all its risks, helps relax the players.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024:09:15:17:14:22 by cricketjerry-mouse.
Thanks for the David Lawrence post Grizzers ; agreed.