On the back of a solid bowling display from Matt Henry and Ish Sodhi, Somerset defeated Essex by 14 runs in the final and clinched the 2023 T20 Blast title on July 15 (Saturday). Defending a mediocre total of 145 runs, Somerset rode on the New Zealand duo's experience and achieved their ultimate goal.
Essex's run chase never got going as the team kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Openers Adam Rossington and Daniel Lawrence gave their team a quickfire start by scoring 27 runs in 1.5 overs before Henry broke the partnership by dismissing Rossington, who scored 19 runs off nine balls. In his next over, the right-arm pacer struck twice, dismissing Michael-Kyle Pepper (one run off four balls) and Lawrence for 16 runs off eight balls.
From thereon, Essex were always behind the eight ball. All-rounder Daniel Sams tried his best to bring Essex back into the game with some lusty blows but his gallant effort went in vain. The Aussie all-rounder struck 45 runs off 26 balls with the help of three sixes and one four before Henry weaved his magic once again. Sodhi ran through the tail with his leg-spinner as Essex bundled out for 131 runs in 18.3 overs.
Henry finished with excellent figures of 4/24 in 3.3 overs while Sodhi provided ample support to his countryman, finishing with figures of 3/22 in four overs.
Earlier, Essex won the toss and asked Somerset to bat first. Sean Dickson's 53-run knock off 35 balls helped Somerset post a defendable total of 145 in 20 overs. Tom Banton added 20 runs while Tom Kohler-Cadmore (19) and Lewis Gregory (11) were the other batters who scored in double-digits.
For Essex, Shane Snater and Paul Walter bagged three wickets each while Sams and Matthew Critchley bagged a wicket each.
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