Northamptonshire claimed their first Vitality Blast title in a decade and third overall with a thrilling 14-run win over Hampshire in Saturday’s see-saw Edgbaston final.
Steelbacks seamer Luke Procter (2-25) took two wickets in the penultimate over before fellow veteran Ben Sanderson (2-26) struck from successive balls in the last, including having Hampshire top-scorer Joe Weatherley (75 off 53) caught in the deep by captain David Willey as the Hawks were dismissed for 155 chasing 170.
Northants had crumbled from 138-2 in the 16th over to 169 all out in 19.5 after a remarkable collapse of 8-31, during which they lost five wickets in eight balls and Hampshire’s England seamer Sonny Baker (5-21) became the first man to take a five-for on Finals Day.
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Sonny Baker became the first player to take five wickets in the final of the Vitality Blast Men as Hampshire fought back against Northamptonshire.
However, Willey’s side, for whom Ricardo Vasconcelos smoked 88 off 59 deliveries, roared back with the ball as James Sales – the son of Northants legend David Sales – bagged 3-25, including the key scalp of Hawks skipper James Vince (17) at the back end of the powerplay.
Leg-spinner Calvin Harrison also bowled Tristan Stubbs (2) with a beauty that pitched around leg stump before turning back to clip off as Hampshire fell short, despite the best efforts of Weatherley, who had amassed an unbeaten 88 from 58 balls in the semi-final win over Notts Outlaws earlier in the day.
Baker was the last man out, bowled by Sanderson to spark wild Steelbacks celebrations and condemn Hampshire to a second straight runners-up up finish, following their defeat to Somerset in last year’s showpiece.
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Calvin Harrison’s spectacular delivery bowled Tristan Stubbs as Northamptonshire reduced Hampshire to 77-4 in the Vitality Blast Men final.
This triumph for Northants, which denied Hampshire a record fourth title, follows previous successes in 2013 and 2016, with Northants now having the joint-most Blast titles across the T20 competition’s 24-year history, alongside Somerset, Leicestershire and Hampshire.
Ultimately, Northants – who had superbly defended 143 all out versus defending champions Somerset in Saturday’s first semi-final as Willey bagged 3-17 and played his part in a staggering relay catch – were not left to rue their astonishing collapse.
With Vasconcelos dazzling and Lewis McManus (22 off 17) going well, the Steelbacks possibly had thoughts of a total of 190 or 200, only for McManus hauling Scott Currie (2-38) to deep square leg to trigger a superb Hampshire comeback.
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Opener Ricardo Vasconcelos smashed 88 off just 59 balls as Northamptonshire made a brilliant start against Hampshire in the final of the Vitality Blast Men.
Hampshire’s catching was electric, with Vince claiming back-pedalling efforts at cover and mid-off and Weatherley taking a fine low chance at deep backward square.
The Hawks’ run chase got off to the worst possible start when Toby Albert (0) was nicked off by Willey first ball, while they were 90-5 in the 12th once Sales castled Hilton Cartwright (11) with a terrific yorker.
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Liam Dawson was run out as Hampshire appeared to be closing in on victory over Northamptonshire in the Vitality Blast Men final.
A 48-run stand between Weatherley and England all-rounder Liam Dawson (35 off 18) revived Hampshire, only for the latter’s run out in the 17th over with 32 runs needed to restore Northants’ belief.
Procter proceeded to bowl James Fuller (3) and Currie in the space of three balls in the 19th over, before Sanderson had the final say, banishing Weatherley – who recorded the most runs by a batter across a single Finals Day – and then vaporising Baker.
