Somerset beat Lancs to reach third straight Blast final

Tom Kohler-Cadmore's 81 off 52 balls set the platform for Somerset's victory

Vitality Blast semi-final, Edgbaston

Somerset 182-7 (20 overs): Kohler-Cadmore 81; Balderson 3-31

Lancashire 159 all out (19.5 overs): Jennings 44; Pretorius 3-27

Somerset won by 23 runs

Match scorecard

Somerset reached their third T20 Blast final in a row with victory over Lancashire Lightning in the first semi-final.

Tom Kohler-Cadmore's 81 off 52 balls powered Somerset to 182-7 in their 20 overs at Edgbaston.

Liam Livingstone and Keaton Jennings had Lancashire well placed in the chase at 78-2 but Kohler-Cadmore's wonderful diving catch in the deep removed Jennings for 44.

England all-rounder Livingstone struck three big sixes before he was given out lbw off Lewis Gregory despite claiming he got an inside edge and reviewing the decision.

Replays were inconclusive with the bat next to the pad and Livingstone was furious as he left the field.

At 102-4 in the 12th over when Livingstone went, Lancashire lost momentum under darkening skies and were bowled out for 159 in the final over.

Somerset will now play the winners of the second semi-final between Northamptonshire Steelbacks and Hampshire Hawks in the final later on Saturday.

Although Livingstone's wicket just as he was beginning to motor turned the game in Somerset's favour, some outstanding fielding contributed to their victory.

Kohler-Cadmore claimed two catches inches above the turf, and Gregory and Migael Pretorius also took stunning diving efforts.

Earlier, new dad Kohler-Cadmore was the only Somerset batter to find any real timing on a sticky pitch, striking six fours and four sixes as he looked on course to make the first century at Finals Day.

Lancashire paceman George Balderson (3-31) had him caught on the boundary but Craig Overton and Pretorius helped Somerset to an above par score by hitting Tom Aspinwall for 21 off the final over.

Alongside the controversy of Livingstone's dismissal, Lancashire also made an unusual move at the start of the 19th over, retiring Balderson who had seven off six balls, and replacing him with Tom Hartley.

It backfired as Hartley chipped Ben Green to Kohler-Cadmore first ball.

James Anderson took 2-34 in what might be his last Finals Day and came out to bat as the rain arrived in Birmingham with Somerset strolling to victory by 23 runs.

The 2023 champions have the chance to avenge last year's defeat by West Country rivals Gloucestershire in the final which is due to start at 18:45 BST.

'We've got great vibes'

Somerset's Tom Kohler-Cadmore told BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra:

"We spoke about someone being man of the match and getting us through and thankfully that was me.

"They got off to such a good start and a few boundaries at the end could have hurt us.

"But we've got great vibes now heading into the final and there's some unfinished business from last year."

Lancashire captain Keaton Jennings told BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra:

"Overall they were they better side on the day and we fell a little short with bat, ball and in the field.

"It feels like a harsh decision to retire George [Balderson] but we felt like Tommy [Hartley] had a better chance to hit a couple of sixes."