‘The T20 blast is the class’ – Fans express happiness as Somerset ends 18-year wait to win T20 Blast as they beat Essex at Edgbaston

In order to capture the second title, Somerset thrashed Essex by 14 runs in the Vitality Blast 2023 final on Sunday at Edgbaston in Birmingham.  Meanwhile, they last won the title in 2005, upsetting Lancashire Lightning at The Oval in London in the final match. Notably, the previous time Somerset won the T20 Blast, it was under the captaincy of Graeme Smith, who struck an unbeaten 64 runs to guide the team to victory in 2005.

Meanwhile, the highest-achieving sides are Leicestershire and Hampshire, which have lifted the league title three times. In addition, Somerset has now won the league title twice, alongside Kent, Northants, and Notts, while Surrey, Sussex, Middlesex, Birmingham, Lancashire, Worcestershire, and Essex have each lifted the trophy once. Notably, with the help of Ish Sodhi (3/22), Lewis Gregory (2/25), and Matt Henry (4/24), Somerset managed to successfully defend 145 runs.

Furthermore, Essex’s batting lineup was completely collapsed by Somerset’s pacers. Notably, Essex’s campaign got off to a poor start as it lost its first five wickets for 55 runs in a mere eight overs. On top of that, Daniel Sam’s put up an impressive fight with a 26-ball 45, but it was eventually insufficient to chase the target in front of Somerset bowlers who were too good while defending 145 runs.

It becomes harder each time you come back: Gregory

“It feels pretty damn good. I’ve been to finals day many, many times, and this is a special feeling to get over the line. Everyone sees Somerset as the nearly-men, and it becomes harder each time you come back. I was just praying we had a couple of guys who were having one of those days where you just can’t stop them. We did it the hard way throughout the day; it’s just rewards,” winning Captain Lewis Gregory said, being quoted by NDTV Sports.

“At the end of the day we were outplayed. I think they (Somerset) bowled exceptionally. Unfortunately, sometimes there’s a loser and that’s us tonight,” Essex skipper Simon Harmer said after losing the final game.

Look out here at how the fans reacted: