{"id":696854,"date":"2026-07-17T15:41:18","date_gmt":"2026-07-17T15:41:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/696854\/"},"modified":"2026-07-17T15:41:18","modified_gmt":"2026-07-17T15:41:18","slug":"2026-vitality-blast-finals-day-preview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/696854\/","title":{"rendered":"2026 Vitality Blast Finals Day: Preview"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>                                2026 Vitality Blast Finals Day: Preview<\/p>\n<p>THE MATCHES<\/p>\n<p>Somerset have qualified for a sixth consecutive Finals Day and take on Northants Steelbacks in the first Vitality Blast semi-final at Edgbaston tomorrow (Saturday July 18th).<\/p>\n<p>SEMI-FINAL 1<br \/>Somerset v Northants Steelbacks \u2013 11am<\/p>\n<p>SEMI-FINAL 2<br \/>Hampshire Hawks v Notts Outlaws \u2013 2:30pm<\/p>\n<p>FINAL<br \/>Winner semi-final 1 v Winner semi-final 2 \u2013 6:45pm<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-87662 size-full\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=\" http:=\"\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1706\" data-lazy- data-lazy- data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2286261146-scaled.jpg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>HOW CAN I KEEP UP TO DATE?<\/p>\n<p>You can keep up to date with a live blog via our dedicated Match Centre and also on our X feed.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"button padding-all\" href=\"https:\/\/somersetcountycc.co.uk\/matchcenter-list\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" aria-label=\"MATCH CENTRE - Opens in a new tab \">MATCH CENTRE<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Finals Day will be televised on Sky Sports.<\/p>\n<p>In addition to this, a report on the day\u2019s play along with quotes will be posted on this website.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-87542\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=\" http:=\"\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1647\" data-lazy- data-lazy- data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/HJT_0433-scaled.jpg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>THE OPPOSITION<\/p>\n<p>NORTHANTS STEELBACKS<\/p>\n<p>Captain:\u00a0David Willey<br \/>Finals Day appearances:\u00a0Five (2009, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2025)<br \/>Titles:\u00a0Two (2013, 2016)<br \/>2026 finish: 1st in Central &amp; West Group (36)<br \/>2026 leading run-scorer: Chris Lynn (475)<br \/>2026 leading wicket-taker: James Sales (21)<\/p>\n<p>NOTTS OUTLAWS<\/p>\n<p>Captain: Joe Clarke<br \/>Finals Day appearances: Six (2006, 2010, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020)<br \/>Titles: Two (2017, 2020)<br \/>2026 finish: 1st in North Group (32 points)<br \/>2026 leading run-scorer: Henry Munsey (488)<br \/>2026 leading wicket-taker: Mohammad Ali (19)<\/p>\n<p>HAMPSHIRE HAWKS<\/p>\n<p>Captain:\u00a0James Vince<br \/>Finals Day appearances:\u00a011 (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025)<br \/>Titles:\u00a0Three (2010, 2012, 2022)<br \/>2026 finish: 1st in South Group (32 points)<br \/>2026 leading run-scorer: James Vince (435)<br \/>2026 leading wicket-taker: Scott Currie (22)<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-87536\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=\" http:=\"\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1604\" data-lazy- data-lazy- data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/HJT_9015-scaled.jpg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>TEAM NEWS<\/p>\n<p>Somerset will be without Lewis Goldsworthy (concussion) and Tom Lammonby (elbow) but Tom Banton has been made available.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-87691\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=\" http:=\"\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1440\" data-lazy- data-lazy- data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/squad_-scaled.png\"\/><\/p>\n<p>VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM<\/p>\n<p>Ahead of the match, Somerset Head Coach, Jason Kerr said: \u201cGetting to Finals Day again this year is an incredible achievement. We were set the task of winning the last four group games and we managed to do that. Obviously, last night\u2019s quarter-final was quite remarkable. That really is a game we shouldn\u2019t have won but Craig Overton and that partnership with Riley was just phenomenal.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019ve managed to go six Final Days back-to-back now and that\u2019s an incredible achievement which means a hell of a lot. I think it\u2019s a reflection of the character that we\u2019ve got in the dressing room and how much belief they\u2019ve got in each other. There\u2019s genuinely a never say die attitude.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTo be the first team to retain the title would be huge. At the start of any coach\u2019s tenure, you want to create history and if we can do that on Saturday, it\u2019ll be an incredible, incredible achievement. This group is certainly capable of that.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFinals Day is a great occasion and what\u2019s happened in the group stages counts for nothing. We know Northants well and had two comprehensive wins over them to get this stage but that\u2019s history now. It\u2019s about what happens on the day.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019ve experienced some incredible highs and some big lows on Finals Day over the years and we\u2019re looking forward to the opportunity of defending our title on Saturday.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-87247\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=\" http:=\"\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1619\" data-lazy- data-lazy- data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/HJT_6516-1-scaled.jpg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>TRADE NATION STAT<\/p>\n<p>Ahead of our Vitality Blast matches this summer we will be bringing you some amazing stats in partnership with Trade Nation.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-87694\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=\" http:=\"\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1440\" data-lazy- data-lazy- data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/NEW-stat-scaled.png\"\/><\/p>\n<p>CLASSIC MATCH<\/p>\n<p>The last time Somerset appeared at Finals Day we lifted the trophy following a dramatic win over Hampshire Hawks.<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s another chance to see last season\u2019s memorable final!<\/p>\n<p>EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW<\/p>\n<p>You can find out everything that you need to know about attending Finals Day from the official Edgbaston website<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"button padding-all\" href=\"https:\/\/www.edgbaston.com\/vitality-blast-t20-finals-day-spectator-guide?_gl=1*1jx610r*_up*MQ..*_ga*MTcwNDk3NzE4Ny4xNzg0MTkyNzk1*_ga_NE7BBXK3VR*czE3ODQxOTI3OTUkbzEkZzAkdDE3ODQxOTI3OTUkajYwJGwwJGgw*_ga_ZHXWMN2QK2*czE3ODQxOTI3OTUkbzEkZzEkdDE3ODQxOTI3OTUkajYwJGwwJGgw\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">FINALS DAY SPECTATOR GUIDE<\/a><\/p>\n<p>NEXT MATCH<\/p>\n<p>Somerset\u2019s next match is on Tuesday (July 21st) when we take on Notts Outlaws in the Metro Bank One Day Cup at the John Fretwell Centre, Sookholme.<\/p>\n<p>Tickets are available now.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"button padding-all\" href=\"https:\/\/tickets.trentbridge.co.uk\/selection\/event\/date?productId=10229154966243&amp;gtmStepTracking=true\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">BUY NOW<\/a><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-77287 size-medium\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=\" http:=\"\" alt=\"\" width=\"262\" height=\"300\" data-lazy- data-lazy- data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/TN-TertiaryLogo-RGB-WhiteText-262x300.png\"\/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"2026 Vitality Blast Finals Day: Preview THE MATCHES Somerset have qualified for a sixth consecutive Finals Day and&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":696855,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[34],"tags":[1721,101,56,54,55],"class_list":["post-696854","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-cricket","tag-cricket","tag-sports","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-unitedkingdom"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/696854","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=696854"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/696854\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/696855"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=696854"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=696854"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=696854"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}