• Somerset defeated Essex by 14 runs in the final of T20 Blast 2023.

  • Matt Henry was adjudged 'Player of the Match' for his exceptional bowling performance.

T20 Blast 2023 Final: Matt Henry shine as Somerset beat Essex to clinch their second title
Somerset clinched their second Vitality Blast 2023 title (Image Source: Twitter)

Somerset emerged victorious against Essex by 14 runs in an exhilarating final match of the Vitality Blast 2023 at Edgbaston. The match showcased thrilling performances from both teams, but it was Somerset’s bowlers who ultimately sealed the win for the eventual champions.

Asked to bat first, Somerset started their innings with a moderate total of 145 runs for the loss of ten wickets in their allotted 20 overs. Sean Dickson was the standout performer for Somerset, scoring a brilliant half-century of 53 runs off just 35 deliveries, supported by seven boundaries. Tom Banton (20) and Tom Kohler-Cadmore (19) also made valuable contributions to the team’s total. Among the Essex bowlers, Shane Snater was the pick of the bunch, claiming three wickets for a mere 13 runs in his quota of four overs. Paul Walter and Daniel Sams also contributed well with three and one wickets, respectively.

In reply, Essex struggled to find momentum and lost wickets at regular intervals. Despite some brief contributions from Adam Rossington (19) and Daniel Sams (45), they couldn’t build significant partnerships to anchor the innings. Matt Henry proved to be the hero for Somerset with a remarkable bowling spell, claiming four crucial wickets for just 24 runs in his 3.3 overs. Lewis Gregory (2 wickets) and Ish Sodhi (3 wickets) also played vital roles in restricting Essex’s run chase. Essex’s innings ultimately came to an end at 131 runs in 18.3 overs, losing the summit clash by 14 runs. Henry’s exceptional bowling performance earned him the well-deserved ‘Player of the Match’ award.

With this victory, Somerset clinched their second Vitality Blast 2023 title. Notably, the team previously were crowned champions 18 years ago in 2005.

Here’s how Twitter reacted:

https://twitter.com/Suvhu0854/status/1680421452368220160

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VISHWANATH HARIHARAN
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