Somerset secured their place at Finals Day for the fifth year in a row. Tom Dickson put on an electric performance to help the team pull out the win. In an electrifying finale, Dickson detonated with a flurry of late fireworks. His batting went a long way to helping Somerset past a daunting target, seeing them beat the Birmingham Bears with one ball to go.
The closely fought contest took a turn in favour of Somerset, who were left needing 19 runs to win from the last over. Dickson met this unprecedented challenge with an extraordinary spirit. Against Ed Barnard, he displayed his talent by hitting two sixes in an over and then a four. His bard second half performance sealed the match and laid the groundwork for Somerset’s semi-final encounter with Lancashire.
The Bears, led by captain Alex Davies, fell short once again, marking their fifth successive quarter-final defeat in the competition. Davies was an absolute dynamo on the mic, scoring a blistering 71. The team did not have the experience to continue the strong momentum they built up in the beginning. They posted a total of 190 for six, bolstered by Rob Yates, who hit the tournament’s leading wicket-taker Riley Meredith for six consecutive boundaries.
Somerset’s batting attempt began on a major misstep, as they quickly faced an uphill battle of needing 111 runs over fewer than ten and a half overs. Tom Abell’s calm authority at the crease complemented Dickson beautifully. He was bowled for 51, leaving Somerset still needing a further 57 runs to win. Despite the defensive intensity, Dickson’s coolness under duress would be the determining factor in seeing his side across the line.
Notably, Olly Hannon-Dalby made his long-awaited return to the Blast after an injury-enforced absence stretching back to 2023. The Bears put out a squad that was most striking for its absence of international stars. Although match time in this format will be scarce, Hannon-Dalby certainly made an impression with his incisive bowling abilities.
Even on the powerplay, the aggressive batting approach of the Bears was on display as they hit a tournament record 18 fours in just the first 6 overs. This momentum would not turn into victory as Somerset went on to defeat Somerset County 4-3 in the 12th inning.
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