Simon Harmer-led Essex reached the final of T20 Blast 2023 with a five-wicket win over Hampshire by Duckworth Lewis Stern (DLS) method. Hampshire failed to become the first side to defend their T20 Blast title as Daniel Sams and Matthew Critchley's cameos crushed their hopes of creating history at Edgbaston, Birmingham on July 15.
After winning the toss, Harmer opted to field first as rain was expected to play spoilsport. James Vince and Ben McDermott got Hampshire off to a flying start. McDermott's cameo was ended by Sam Cook in the third over. The Australian batter scored 29 runs from 12 balls including five fours and one six. In the next over, Shane Snater got the wicket of skipper Vince. He scored 13 runs from 11 balls. After powerplay overs, Hampshire had 55/2 on the board. Critchley struck in his first over. Tom Prest who was struggling for runs got out lbw. In the 10th over, Harmer got the wicket of Liam Dawson. Hampshire were 82/4 at halfway stage.
After few quite overs, Joe Weatherley and James Fuller tried to accelerate. Fuller failed as he became Critchley's second victim of the day. Ross Whiteley failed to make an impact and got out to Paul Walter for a single-digit score. Weatherley and Benn Howell helped Hampshire score big in slog overs. Howell contributed with an 11-ball 22 whereas Weatherley remained unbeaten for 63 off 39 balls including four fours and two sixes. Hampshire posted 170/7 on the board.
Essex got off to a scratchy start. They lost Adam Rossington's wicket in the first over itself. Rain interrupted play in the third over and the revised target was 115 from 12 overs. Daniel Lawrence and Michael-Kyle Pepper struggled to get going. Pepper got out in the sixth over for a run-a-ball 17. In the same over, Fuller got rid of Lawrence who contributed with a 16-ball 21. Esse were 49/3 after six overs. In the next over, John Turner got Walter out for a single-digit score.
Sams got the run chase back on track with two fours and a six in the eighth over. In the next over, Sams and Critchley hit one six each. Nathan Ellis was hit for a six as well but he got the wicket of Sams. The Australian all-rounder scored 29 runs from 17 balls including two fours and three sixes in the 45-run partnership for the fifth wicket. Dawson bowled a brilliant penultimate over conceding just seven runs. In the final over, Critchely hit a six and then took a single. Harmer then finished the run chase in style with a massive six off Ellis to take his team home.
MORE ON SPORTS TAK
