Postpublished at 21:22 British Summer Time 15 July 2023
Carlos Brathwaite
West Indies all-rounder on BBC Radio Five Live Sports Extra
This is much better from Essex. They just need to give themselves some time.
Summary
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 21:22 British Summer Time 15 July 2023
Postpublished at 10 overs
Essex 71-5 (target 146)
Image source, ReutersStrange period. Feels pivotal. We're halfway.
Paul Walter and Daniel Sams are more than capable, as are the likes of Simon Harmer, as we saw earlier. Under eight an over should not intimidate Essex, but the five in the wicket column and the skill of the Somerset attack maybe should. Plus the fact it's the biggest game of the season.
Walter turns down a second run and Essex take six singles off the over.
Kasey Aldridge comes on to bowl his first over in this year's competitiom. No pressure.
75 from 60 balls to win,
Postpublished at 21:19 British Summer Time 15 July 2023
Victoria Polley
BBC Essex cricket commentatorWhat we can say is, Essex have strength in depth, and we need to hold on to that at the moment.
Postpublished at 9 overs
Essex 65-5 (target 146)
Ben Green gets the ninth over. He has 30 wickets in the competition but is no longer the lone leading wicket-taker as his teammate Matt Henry has joined him on that number.
Paul Walter adds two fours to move to 17. The first owes much to Ish Sodhi losing the flight of the ball and then slipping, the second is a picture-perfect drive over long-off.
Gregory will bowl over number 10.
Postpublished at 21:13 British Summer Time 15 July 2023
Mark Davis
Former Somerset seamer on BBC Radio SomersetYou've got to feel that Somerset now have themselves in a really, really strong position to go on and win this.
WICKET Critchley lbw b Gregory 3published at 8 overs
Essex 55-5 (target 146)
Image source, Getty ImagesLoose first ball from Lewis Gregory is cut away for four runs by Paul Walter.
Tom Kohler-Cadmore channels his inner Peter Schmeichel to produce a fine diving stop to save a couple of runs - the Somerset fielding in their semi-final was impressive, too.
Ben Green produces some good hands to prevent a single and then Gregory has Critchley trapped plum in front. Another dangerman on his way. Captain leading by example, getting the ball to jag in.
55-5 after eight overs. Daniel Sams is the next into the middle.
get involved Get Involvedpublished at 21:11 British Summer Time 15 July 2023
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Essex falling into Surrey's trap. No need to go for boundaries as the run rate is well within reach, but playing silly shots and getting out.
Eddie, Kent.
Essex's predicament now compared to against Hampshire is a perfect illustration of why DLS isn't fit for purpose for T20. Certainly not in its current format anyway.
JD
Postpublished at 7 overs
Essex 48-4 (target 146)
More suffocating stufff. Just the two off it.
Paul Walter defends the third ball and only gets off the mark with a single off the sixth ball he has faced.
Matt Critchley chops the next bal into the ground but it loops back to the keeper rather than onto his stumps.
Craig Overton ended with 1-30 off four overs. Quite the comeback,
Lewis Gregory will replace Matt Henry at the other end.
Postpublished at 6 overs
Essex 46-4 (target 146)
Matt Henry is nipping it one way and another. He's enjoying this.
After two dots Matt Critchley squirts one to backward point to rotate the strike and henry replies by almost cutting Paul Walter in half coming around the wicket,
Two dots to finish the over. Suffocating.
Just seven an over needed, but Essex have lost four big wickets inside the powerplay.
Craig Overton will bowl his final over straight off the bat.
Postpublished at 21:02 British Summer Time 15 July 2023
Victoria Polley
BBC Essex cricket commentatorIt's all gone a bit wrong for Essex hasn't it.
Postpublished at 5 overs
Essex 45-4 (target 146)
After a blistering start Somerset have thrown a smothering blanket on their innings. 10-3 across the last two overs.
Matt Henry will continue, with 3-17 and a catch to his name already.
Postpublished at 21:00 British Summer Time 15 July 2023
Glenn Maxwell
Australia all-rounder on BBC Radio 5 Sports ExtraAbsolutely chaotic batting. It’s come crashing down for Essex.
Postpublished at 20:59 British Summer Time 15 July 2023
Nick Gledhill
BBC Essex cricket commentatorNow Essex are in real trouble. The ball spooned up and straight into the hands of mid-on. Somerset are finding their stride and causing problems now.
WICKET Das c Henry b Overton 8published at 4.4 overs
Essex 44-4 (target 146)
Image source, Getty ImagesRobin Das tries to make some room for himself against Craig Overton but he can only chip to mid-on to give Matt Henry a simple catch.
Matt Critchley has been the Essex hero all day... can he continue the heroics here?
Postpublished at 20:56 British Summer Time 15 July 2023
Mark Davis
Former Somerset seamer on BBC Radio SomersetSomerset buoyant, cock-a-hoop, take a bow. It's game on again.
WICKET Lawrence lbw b Henry 16published at 4 overs
Essex 38-3 (target 146)
Image source, ReutersPlumb as you like. Matt Henry has two in the over and Somerset have hauled themselves back into this one.
Just the three off the over, with Robin Das looking a little nervy, and Matt Henry has 3-17.
Paul Walter joins Das.
WICKET Pepper b Henry 1published at 3.1 overs
Essex 35-2 (target 146)
Matt Henry is on a hat-trick. He's rearranged Michael Pepper's stumps with some extra pace.
Robin Das will face the hat-trick ball...
Not this time.
Postpublished at 3 overs
Essex 35-1 (target 146)
Michael Pepper throws his hands at the first couple of deliveries from Craig Overton without conneting but gets off the mark with a clip to fine leg for a single.
Dan Lawrence shows Essex's intent with a big six before Overton replies with a dot.
for Dan Lawrencepublished at 20:50 British Summer Time 15 July 2023
Dan Lawrence picks Craig Overton up and sends him over a wide long-on for six. He stands and admires his handiwork.
Postpublished at 20:47 British Summer Time 15 July 2023
Don Topley
BBC Essex cricket commentatorAdam Rossington gone! The Somerset fans come alive.