Summary

  1. Goodnightpublished at 21:50 British Summer Time 5 September

    Somerset beat Northants by 17 runs

    Somerset celebrateImage source, Getty Images

    But that's it from a damp and chilly Wantage Road.

    Not vintage weather for T20 but we've had a cracking game with over 400 runs and the game alive until late in the evening.

    Somerset have overcome an away tie to get back to Finals Day for a fourth year running while a brave campaign by Northamptonshire comes to an end.

    Join us tomorrow for the remaining tie between Birmingham and Gloucestershire.

    For now, goodnight.

  2. Coming uppublished at 21:48 British Summer Time 5 September

    Somerset beat Northants by 17 runs

    So three down and one quarter-final to come.

    Can Gloucestershire make it a South Group clean sweep?

    They travel to Edgbaston tomorrow night to face Birmingham Bears.

    The Bears have again blazed a trail through the group stage but for the past two seasons have faltered at home in the last eight.

    Make sure you join us for that one tomorrow from 18:45 BST.

  3. 'Can be difficult to defend here'published at 21:43 British Summer Time 5 September

    Somerset beat Northants by 17 runs

    Northants captain David Willey told Sky Sports:

    "At the halfway point it's a good score but we knew it was a good pitch and it can be difficult to defend here.

    "I felt like I couldn't get going just when I needed to but the boys that came in played some brilliant cameos to keep us in it.

    "For a fairly inexperienced group to play like that against a very good side is very promising for us.

    "It was the first game of the comp for some guys and we've got some great learnings there."

  4. Postpublished at 21:41 British Summer Time 5 September

    Somerset beat Northants by 17 runs

    Somerset captain Lewis Gregory told Sky Sports:

    "The last 20 felt like we were backs to the wall trying to defend.

    "Even though it was a lot of runs I felt they always had a chance.

    "Tom Banton played brilliantly and we went really well at the back end with the bat.

    "We've got strength in depth and we've found a formula to win. We've got power with the bat and experience with the ball."

    Somerset celebrateImage source, Getty Images
  5. Postpublished at 21:34 British Summer Time 5 September

    I shall pop downstairs and get some instant reaction from the key players, Tom Banton is man of the match, likely he will be speaking to us shortly, maybe only after Blackbird has been sung though.

  6. Postpublished at 21:34 British Summer Time 5 September

    Somerset beat Northants by 17 runs

    That last-ball drop was about the only blemish on Somerset's fielding, arguably harder than the key chance Gus Miller dropped off Tom Kohler-Cadmore earlier on.

    That was a crucial drop and Northants really will have to wonder what if - as they were not behind there, chasing well against a Somerset side struggling bowling in very wet second innings conditions.

  7. Defending champions Somerset seal spot at T20 Finals Daypublished at 21:32 British Summer Time 5 September

    Somerset beat Northants by 17 runs

    Ironically Lewis Gregory drops a skyer last ball of the match - the music man enjoys it, but it does not matter.

    Northants have to rue their sloppy fielding, they easily could have saved 17 runs in the field, but Somerset batted particularly well and 215 is always imposing, particularly in a knockout match.

  8. Postpublished at 19.4 overs

    Northants 195-5 v Somerset 215-3

    Scoop for four from Ashton Agar then a mammoth blow over leg from a low full toss.

    Biggest six of the night?

    Corrh Ben Green has taken some tap tonight, but it won't matter surely - Somerset are already through, he just must keep his foot behind the line.

    Six scythed over third man.

    I saw Dan Christian score a ton here a few years back in this format, this hitting reminding me of that.

  9. 38 needed off the last!published at 21:28 British Summer Time 5 September

    Northants 178-5 v Somerset 215-3

    38 from six balls, Dan Lawrence did exactly that off Somerset's Shoaib Bashir a few months back... (albeit Bashir was playing for Worcestershire that day).

    Can Northants end this match incredibly and make Ben Green join his team-mate in the concession charts?

  10. Postpublished at 19 overs

    Northants 178-5 v Somerset 215-3

    Jake Ball does join his fellow three main seamers in bowling four overs here tonight.

    Ashton Agar gets one four away past mid off.

    Well executed yorkers by the former Notts man see only singles taken from the rest of the over until the penultimate ball four, 12 off it still nowhere near enough.

    Craig Overton is being jibed by the home fans here at long on, but having proposed to his girlfriend earlier in the week and now about to seal another Finals Day, he has probably cared far more about the stick he gets other times.

  11. Postpublished at 18 overs

    Northants 166-5 v Somerset 215-3

    Josh Davey appeals for lbw but only half-heartedly.

    The Northampton Saints rugby players on a jolly here tonight in front of us have gone a bit quiet now too, is that a few of them sidling away early I see?

    Actually a lot of home fans are leaving now. Hopes of a Northants win ultra slim.

  12. Postpublished at 17 overs

    Northants 160-5 v Somerset 215-3

    Josh Davey to bowl the ante-penultimate over.

    Northants needing a miracle with two new batters now, Lewis McManus the number seven.

  13. wicket

    WICKET Willey c van der Merwe b Ball 57published at 16.4 overs

    Northants 159-5 v Somerset 215-3

    Hands slipping on the bat from the wet conditions or sweat from David Willey's 38-ball knock?

    Roelof van der Merwe slides in from deep extra cover with his trademark reverse cup technique and makes no mistake - Somerset outfielding Northants could be the main difference in this game.

    Remember that Gus Miller drop earlier, those awful misfields?

  14. Postpublished at 16.3 overs

    Northants 159-4 v Somerset 215-3

    Can Ashton Agar make up for being hit for 46 off three overs earlier?

    The overseas star famous for that 98* on Ashes and Australian test debut is needing runs quickly straight away, mind.

  15. wicket

    WICKET Zaib c Abell b Gregory 32published at 16 overs

    Northants 151-4 v Somerset 215-3

    Tom Abell (at mid off) was wrapped up in multiple blankets earlier, a rare sign for the tough-as-nails former skipper - he was relegated down the order, did not bat, but has taken a crucial skyer now.

    Last ball of skipper Lewis Gregory's spell that.

    But 32 off 16 balls is a serious knock from Saif Zaib that should be applauded, especially if Northants win this - do not forget he has done a lot of work to get them to this position.

  16. Postpublished at 15.5 overs

    Northants 151-3 v Somerset 215-3

    Lewis Gregory bowls himself his fourth.

    But he is hit again for six over backward square leg by Saif Zaib - the left-handed Suryakumar Yadav in my opinion for the way he hits full balls outside off over fine leg for six.

    Next one is more orthodox over extra for four.

  17. Required rate mountingpublished at 15 overs

    Northants 137-3 v Somerset 215-3

    More runs than both the other two quarter-finals this week, already, and by some distance.

    This could be a cracker bubbling up nicely, but Somerset still just on top although Josh Davey is inside edged for four.

    Texts received from outside our draughty press box read 'mizzly.'

    Rate is now 15.8 required for the home side.

  18. 50 runs

    50 for David Willeypublished at 14.3 overs

    Northants 132-3 v Somerset 215-3

    David Willey battingImage source, Getty Images

    The man who has the most history for heroics in a Northants shirt in T20 cricket is back from Yorkshire, no longer with England and with, as always, a point to prove.

    Whilst he is there Somerset fans still fear.

    35 balls, one four, four sixes - he barely bothers with fours, if it is remotely a bad ball he will try and hit it into the stands, or over them.

  19. Postpublished at 14 overs

    Northants 129-3 v Somerset 215-3

    Green is slashed for four by Saif Zaib but comes back well with his final three deliveries, the last ball just going over the stumps as Zaib thinks he deserves a wide.

    12 off the over feels a Northants win, but it is not, they are slipping further behind the required rate.

  20. 6 runs

    Postpublished at 13.2 overs

    Northants 123-3 v Somerset 215-3

    Ben Green has been absolutely moosed over backward square leg, some shot, more runs behind square for left-handers off Green.

    A shot that Saif Zaib can seriously play do not forget - even without Ravi Bopara, Northants' middle-order have serious potential.