Northamptonshire edge Somerset thriller to reach T20 Blast final

Northamptonshire Steelbacks delivered a remarkable bowling performance to defeat defending champions Somerset by 17 runs in the T20 Blast semi-final at Edgbaston, booking their place in the final for the first time since 2016. Somerset, winners of two of the last three titles, were in control at halfway after bowling Northants out for 143, powered by Jake Ball's 4-17. But the Steelbacks fought back brilliantly, with captain David Willey taking 3-17 and Ben Sanderson 3-28 to restrict Somerset to 126-9. The defeat extends the 23-year streak of no team retaining the Blast trophy since its inception in 2003. Somerset, appearing in a sixth consecutive Finals Day, started strongly by reducing Northants to 26-3 early. Chris Lynn (39) mounted a recovery with Saif Zaib but fell to Ball's slower ball. In reply, Willey struck first ball to dismiss Tom Banton for a duck. Will Smeed threatened with 49 off 35 balls, but his dismissal sparked a collapse. Willey's stunning fielding in the 18th over, diving to save a boundary and relay the ball for a catch, proved a turning point. Sanderson sealed the win with the last ball.