Postpublished at 12:43 British Summer Time 15 July 2023
Essex 10-1 (target 171)
This was the scene during the between-innings interval.
Looks a bit brighter now, thank goodness. Although, actually...
Image source, Getty ImagesSummary
Somerset all out for 145 from final ball of their 20 overs in the final; Sean Dickson top scores with 53
Matt Henry and Ish Sodhi share seven wickets as Somerset bowl out Essex for 131 to win by 14 runs
Essex beat holders Hampshire by five wickets (DLS Method) in first semi-final
Joe Weatherley hits unbeaten 63 to help Hants post 170-7
Essex reach revised 12-over target of 115 after rain, with three balls to spare
Somerset beat Surrey by 24 runs in second semi-final
Surrey limit Somerset to 142-7 but dismissed for 118 in reply
Postpublished at 12:43 British Summer Time 15 July 2023
Image source, Getty ImagesPostpublished at 2 overs
Essex 10-1 (target 171)
Michael Pepper tries a couple of ramps to start the over but cannot get bat on ball.
He tries to use Turner's pace to uppercut the fourth ball but it's not until the fifth ball that runs arrive, as Pepper cuts past the fingertips of backward point which runs to the rope.
A no-ball bye off the last delivery gives Dan Lawrence a free hit but Turner's yorker sails through to the keeper.
Hampshire smashed 43 off the first 19 balls, remember, before being curtailed by wickets falling and spin.
'Turner's tongue is out'published at 12:41 British Summer Time 15 July 2023
Alex Hartley
Former England bowler on BBC Radio 5 Sports ExtraTurner sticks his tongue out for every delivery! I've not seen that before.
Postpublished at 1 over
Hampshire 170-7 v Essex 3-1
What a start from Hampshire. 33-year-old Chris Wood showing all his experience.
Nine of the players who won last year's Blast are in this side. How useful will that experience be?
John Turner, young gun, is one of the changes. He takes over two.
'Rossington is furious!'published at 12:35 British Summer Time 15 July 2023
Alex Hartley
Former England bowler on BBC 5 Sports extraGreat catch! Rossington cannot believe it! He is furious with himself, he could have hit it anywhere but hit it straight to the fielder!
WICKET Rossington c Weatherley b Wood 1published at 0.3 overs
Hampshire 170-7 v Essex 2-1
Chris Wood takes the opening over for the Hawks... and he has a wicket off the third ball. A flat shot down the ground from Adam Rossington is superbly caught by Joe Weatherley. What a day he is having.
Michael Pepper is the new man.
Postpublished at 12:31 British Summer Time 15 July 2023
Hampshire 170-7 v Essex
So Essex need 171 to secure their first victory of the campaign against the Hawks - Hampshire won both group meetings between the sides, recording a thumping 118-run win at Chelmsford before a four-wicket victory at the Ageas Bowl.
It looks as though most of the nasty clouds have slid down Edgbaston's leg side and into the city centre.
The players are heading to the middle. We are moments away.
Dan Lawrence and Adam Rossington will begin the reply for Essex.
Somerset and Surrey in second semi laterpublished at 12:29 British Summer Time 15 July 2023
Somerset v Surrey (14:30 BST)
Around two hours, weather permitting, until our second semi-final is scheduled to start.
But who will Jason Roy's Surrey or Somerset be facing in the final?
The first semi is nicely poised after Hampshire posted 170-7 - pretty much a par score, no?
Image source, Getty ImagesStill no Finals Day 100published at 12:23 British Summer Time 15 July 2023
Hampshire 170-7 v Essex
Ged Scott
BBC Sport at EdgbastonJoe Weatherley's half-century, to match his one in the first semi-final here against Somerset two years ago, is the 85th Finals Day fifty.
But nobody has ever gone on to get a century.
Luke Wright, with 92 for Sussex against Somerset in the first semi-final in 2018, remains the nearest to getting there, although the 88 made by Keaton Jennings for Durham against Northants two years earlier is the highest in a final.
WICKET - Howell c Snater b Sams 22published at 12:22 British Summer Time 15 July 2023
Hampshire 170-7 v Essex
Snater makes amends for that earlier drop in almost the same spot off the last ball of the innings.
for Hampshire's Howellpublished at 12:21 British Summer Time 15 July 2023
Hampshire 170-6 v Essex
Benny Howell clubs Daniel Sams over long on, it goes several rows back!
Hampshire have some momentum at last!
Dropped catchespublished at 12:20 British Summer Time 15 July 2023
A smear to point sees Aaron Beard just fail to cling on to a hard chance, and off the next Shane Snater drops a much easier chance at midwicket
Postpublished at 19.1 overs
Hampshire 160-6
Benny Howell slashes Daniel Sams to third for four off the first of the last over.
Postpublished at 19 overs
Hampshire 156-6 v Essex
Joe Weatherley lifts Sam Cook's slower ball high over long leg for six off the last ball of the over, which went for 14.
Fun and frolics at Finals Daypublished at 12:15 British Summer Time 15 July 2023
Hampshire 147-6 v Essex
Image source, Getty ImagesPlenty going on outside of the cricket at Edgbaston today.
Still up in the air, the result of this game of course - although the Essex bowlers have been running rings around the Hampshire batters, Joe Weatherley apart...
Image source, Getty ImagesPostpublished at 18.2 overs
Hampshire 147-6 v Essex
Uh-oh, there's rain in the air as Daniel Sams stops a four with a great sliding stop on the boundary.
'Weatherley doing it in his own way'published at 12:15 British Summer Time 15 July 2023
Hampshire 142-6 v Essex
Carlos Brathwaite
West Indies all-rounder on BBC Radio 5 Sports ExtraJoe Weatherley is playing some beautiful cricket shots and is accelerating in his own way.
He’s not played anything too risky, he’s done it very well, the last shot being the epitome of that.
50 for Weatherleypublished at 18 overs
Hampshire 142-6 v Essex
Joe Weatherley smears a four to go to a fine half century off 34 deliveries.
11 off that over, do that for the last two and 160+ may be a testing target in these conditions.
Image source, Rex FeaturesPostpublished at 12:12 British Summer Time 15 July 2023
Hampshire 136-6 v Essex
Benny Howell is the new batter, and he's lucky to survive a quick single - Dan Lawrence's throw from cover would have had him out by miles.
get involved Get Involvedpublished at 12:10 British Summer Time 15 July 2023
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Joe Gibney: Hampshire are one two three for five.
Sporting Badger: Aha, the lesser spotted 123 for 5. What a time to be alive!
Of course, this being T20, they weren't on that score for long...