Steven Finn
Former England fast bowler on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

It's going to be a cracker, very much looking forward to what we're going to see.

Off the back of winning that second semi-final will Hampshire take that momentum in or will Somerset be able reset after going back to the hotel and chilling for a few hours?

It's going to be a fascinating contest.

After potentially playing his final game in English cricket, Ravi Bopara speaking on BBC Radio Five Live Sports Extra: "From the start of the game we knew there was a bit of rain around and all that sort of stuff but we set ourselves to go out and play the same way we did against Surrey. Go after the game and I thought we put a good total on the board, it was a decent total on that wicket which is slowing up a little bit.

"We thought we had the game, it was in the balance with six overs to go and then there was the one big over and we end up losing the game but I thought Chris Lynn played unbelievable. When someone has a day out like that it's hard to stop them.

"Sorry to the supporters we didn't go on, lightning doesn't strike twice. We had a great game against Surrey and we really did have visions of us going all the way this year but sometimes Finals Day is a lottery and one guy gets you and it's done."

On his future.

"It's not the ideal game to finish on but I've not made a decision yet. I'm going to take some time out. It's certainly not a decision that I want to rush because it's a big decision so I want to going to take my time. I'll speak to David Willey over the next few weeks, months probably. I've got some cricket to play in Canada so let's give it until Christmas at least."

These two have also met in the final before, at the Rose Bowl in 2010, and my goodness was it dramatic...

Craig Kieswetter's blistering 71 was the highlight of Somerset's 173-6.

Neil McKenzie's quickfire 52 kept the hosts - then known as the Royals - on track but it was an unbeaten 44 from Sean Ervine which got them to parity, reaching 173-5 and winning by virtue of losing fewer wickets.

We'd settle for similar drama tonight, wouldn't we?

Somerset have won both Blast encounters against Hampshire this season.

At Taunton on 19 June the hosts amassed an imposing 209-7 with Will Smeed slugging a blistering 68 from 37 deliveries and skipper Lewis Gregory an even quicker 55 from 27 balls, which featured four sixes.

There were also quickfire 29s for Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Lewis Goldsworthy and the visitors just couldn’t keep up the pace.

Lhuan-dre Pretorius (37) and James Vince put on 74 in 8.2 overs for the opening wicket but when Vince went for 54 from 30 deliveries, only Dewald Brevis (36 from 16 balls) reached 20 and the visitors were eventually restricted to 192-7 in reply.

In the most recent meeting at the Ageas Bowl on 6 July, Vince cracked 82 from 57 balls and Joe Weatherley (60* from 42) joined him to add 141 for the third wicket in 14 overs as the hosts posted 178-3 from their 20 overs.

Scott Currie’s fine 3-32 looked like it would help the Hawks to victory as Somerset reached 50-3 in the seventh over, but Sean Dickson clubbed four sixes in a 22-ball half-century to keep them in the hunt and Ben Green and Goldsworthy added 23 runs from nine balls to win it by four wickets with a delivery to spare.

Image source, Getty Images

For the third straight season it’s an all South Group Final, and Somerset have been in them all, but how did these two get here?

Somerset won the first five South Group matches, including one against eventual table-toppers Surrey, and despite a narrow defeat by Kent, rebounded by beating Hampshire by 17 runs.

They won one and lost one against Glamorgan before completing the double over Hampshire, winning by four wickets from the penultimate ball, and then came out on top in three of their final four games, a one-sided defeat at Surrey in the penultimate fixture ensuring they finished second in the standings on net run rate alone.

Their 11 wins in 14 matches earned 44 points – four wins and 14 points more than Hampshire, who pipped Kent via run rate to finish third.

The Hawks began with three consecutive wins to start the season and despite a wobble of one win from the next seven matches, three wins from the final four was enough for them to seal third.

A stunning batting performance helped Hampshire win by 26 runs in their quarter-final at Durham, though the victory was far more comfortable than the result might suggest while Somerset beat Birmingham Bears by four wickets off the penultimate ball at Taunton.

Michael Carberry
Former England batter on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

I think the final is the two best teams on show today.

I'm looking forward to it, it'll be a good match up and may the best team win.

We've seen two very good semi-finals. The games have been not a complete roll over. We've seen some good bowling but equally we've seen some really good batting performances as well.

Image source, Getty Images

So it's all led to this... the quarter-finals and today's semi-finals have featured some of the most dramatic and devastating hitting in memory in the T20 Blast.

What does this final have in store for us?

Somerset skipper Lewis Gregory has won the toss and will BOWL first. All of which means Chris Lynn can keep his pads on after that brutal onslaught against Northants.

The side playing the second semi-final in the past six Finals Days have prevailed in the final, can Hampshire make that seven?

No changes for either team...

So Hampshire and Somerset, the best two sides in T20 history both playing a record 11th Finals Day here, are into the 2025 final.

And it's over to Alex Hoad to begin our build-up.

Player of the match Chris Lynn told Sky Sports: "One ball at a time, that's all you focus on.

"That's the first domino down there. We'll push for a win tonight. We have one more to go.

"Personally I could really top the day off with another big one tonight. Let's stay warm, let's go. Hopefully we can get the job done again."

After leaning he was the first Finals Day centurion, he joked: "I wanted the six sixes in an over more."

Lynn has scored two half-centuries and now this sunning century in an injury-shortened stay at Hampshire but said: "I love (wearing the Hampshire shirt)... hopefully they can bring me back next year."

Daniel Norcross
Test Match Special commentator on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

That is a warning shot to Hampshire. If I were them I would win the toss, bat and send Chris Lynn straight back out again.

Northants battled hard today. They got off to a terrible start with the bat but at 86-6 when the rain break came we didn't feel like we'd get any kind of match but thanks to a very good seven-figure partnership that hauled them up to a competitive 158 which was rounded down by Duckworth Lewis to a target of 155.

Hampshire not with alarm have got there thanks to the quite scintillating brilliance of Chris Lynn.

Well what an innings we've seen there from Chris Lynn.

Possibly the best ever seen on Finals Day?

Certainly the first hundred that's been made.

He finishes with an unbeaten 108 from just 51 balls with five fours and a scarcely-believable 11 sixes!

Truly outrageous.

He took a game that was right in the balance with 38 needed from 24 balls but five sixes in a row from Lynn ended the contest in a flash.

The game is all-but done as George Scrimshaw belatedly enters the attack.

James Fuller clips four through mid-wicket before pulling the winning boundary!

Hampshire are through to play Somerset in the final.

Another leg side swipe brings six more!

Can he complete the set?

No! He misses with another swing to leg.

He's given out lbw! But surely outside off?

Yes. Chris Lynn reviews and he's way outside off.

Daniel Norcross
Test Match Special commentator on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Chris Lynn's got three consecutive sixes, he's got there from just 49 balls.

The highest score on Finals day.

The first time a man has got 100 on Finals Day.

What a knock it's been.

for Chris Lynnpublished at 14.4 overs

14.4 overs

Northants 158-7 v Hants 141-4 - target 155 (DLS)

Image source, Reuters

Lloyd Pope also now to bowl out.

And Chris Lynn whacks the first ball over cow corner for six!

Lynn could win the game himself if this carries on. Seven sixes now.

And next ball he slog-sweeps into the Hollies Stand!

He goes again! Top edge! But it's into the bleachers again! Three bombs on the spin.

And one more, flat over square leg, to bring up the first hundred on Finals Day!

Michael Carberry
Former England batter on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

The equation for me is more than manageable. I can't understand that option from Ali Orr or quite a few of the Hampshire batters really.

Surely at this stage it's all about giving Chris Lynn as much of the strike as possible.

Superb spell from Saif Zaib, 3-18 from his four, to give his side a chance.

But Northants must get Chris Lynn out.

Ben Sanderson is back and sends down two yorkers for two dots.

But then one slips out of his hand and a shoulder-high full toss gets whacked for six over mid-wicket by Chris Lynn!

Oh, what a pressure release. No-ball six.

Free hit now... and Lynn pans him into the Hollies for six more!

A leg bye to fine leg for one before a single to end the over.

17 from it and Hampshire are running again.

Melissa Story
Commentator on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

I guess the question for Chris Lynn is weighing up that risk reward.

Does he try and hit one over the top and things might sway back into Hampshire's favour but does he want to risk that?