Despite that maiden from Shane Snater there's another change and it's back to Sam Cook.

He's a fraction short third ball and gets pulled hard by Tom Kohler-Cadmore over midwicket for six.

But the rest of the over is tidy and it's about an even powerplay with one to go.

Image source, PA Media

Another change. Aaron Beard takes over at the city end.

Tom Banton drives up on his toes for two wide of deep cover.

And then times a slower ball splendidly past the same fielder for four. Too much width offered.

Beard then overcorrects and gets clipped to fine leg for four more with the fielder up on the 45.

Alex Hartley
Former England bowler on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Will Smeed is much stronger into the leg side but was looking to work it into the off-side.

It wasn't a great delivery at all to be honest but he gets a thick inside edge into the stumps.

Smeed has not fired in the semi or the final but he did at least field well in the semi, taking some good catches.

One of the big three has to fire and Smeed is out so for me Tom Banton or Tom Kohler-Cadmore have got to get runs.

Tom Kohler-Cadmore in at three and drives to cover before a solid forward defence.

Oh wow, then drives past one that nips in and it misses everything to whistle away for four byes!

Somehow missed inside edge and leg stump.

Fine over. First maiden of the day.

Tom Banton mistimes a drive inside mid-on and gets a single.

Will Smeed then mistimes one through point for another run.

Sam Cook going length and the ball not quite coming on.

But Banton sees it coming and steps across his stumps to scoop the fourth ball almost straight over the keeper for six!

Image source, Getty Images

Phil Long
BBC Test Match Special statistician

For those asking whether it is an advantage to play in the first or second semi-final game on Finals Day..

It is very slightly an advaantage to win in the second semi, according to the numbers, anyway... of the 20 finals days, eight times the winner of the first semi has gone on to win while 12 times it's been won by the winner of the second semi.

Sam Cook from the city end for Essex.

A bit of swing for Daniel Sams but he gets the fourth ball a touch full and Will Smeed drives past mid-off for four.

And then some width next ball and Smeed cracks it through cover point.

Alex Hartley
Former England bowler on BBC 5 Live Sports Extra

He's quite close, Dan Lawrence, at backward point, 10 yards off, and the ball just burst through his hands. And with that he's gone five yards further back.

Dropped catchpublished at 0.1 overs

0.1 overs

Essex v Somerset 0-0

Down first ball!

Tom Banton slaps the first ball high to backward point but Dan Lawrence can't hang on!

Image source, Getty

Tom Banton and Will Smeed are out there for Somerset and Daniel Sams has the new ball for Essex.

Sams to Banton from the pavilion end to get the final underway.

As the players make their way out onto the field for this year's T20 Blast final, you just have time to read our report on Somerset's victory over Surrey in the second semi.

And we now have a start time, so not long until act three of the Longest Day in Cricket gets underway.

If you are a fan of the T20 Blast Finals Day mascots race - here is all the action from Lanky the giraffe's triumph this afternoon.

Hopefully it's just one these sharp showers that have been around the UK today and is hopefully going to clear quickly.

But good signs, the outfield is being roped and the groundstaff are making moves.

Rain returns ahead of finalpublished at 18:47 British Summer Time 15 July 2023

18:47 BST 15 July 2023

Essex v Somerset - start delayed

Essex and Somerset have met 17 times in T20 cricket, with the boys from Taunton winning 11 of those games, including both in the group stage of this year's competition.

We are going to have to wait for match-up number 18, though, as the rain has returned and the covers are on.

Ged Scott
BBC Sport at Edgbaston

As Finals Day form guides go, this is a very hard one to call.

This is Essex's sixth Finals Day - and a ninth for Somerset. But they have never met. And they have both only once previously lifted the trophy.

Somerset's was way back in 2005, but they are four-times beaten finalists.

Essex, by contrast, lost the first four semi-finals they were in.

They have only been in one final in 2019, they won it - and that was the first in a run of three successive T20 wins here at Edgbaston, the quarter-final victory over Birmingham Bears nine days ago and the semi-final win over holders Hampshire just over four hours ago.

Yet Lewis Gregory’s side were the best side in the South qualifying group, amassing a record points tally, including two wins over Essex.

Dari, Oxfordshire: The bowlers won it for Somerset, but after top scoring in the semi-final can the ill-informed Somerset whingers please get off the back of Sean Dickson... his top score of 30 held us together and got us to the final!