In a thrilling encounter at Edgbaston on Saturday, New Zealand’s Matt Henry and Ish Sodhi delivered an exceptional bowling performance, claiming a total of seven wickets between them, as Somerset secured a 14-run victory over Essex to claim the coveted English cricket’s Twenty20 Blast title.

Defending a modest total of 145, Somerset’s paceman Henry led the charge with figures of 4/24 from 3.3 overs, while leg-spinner Sodhi contributed with 3/22 from his allotted four overs. Essex was ultimately dismissed for 131 with nine balls remaining.

Essex’s Adam Rossington and Dan Lawrence provided a rapid start to their pursuit of Somerset’s target. However, Henry intervened, dismissing both batsmen before clean bowling Michael Pepper with an excellent delivery. With Essex struggling at 55/5, Sodhi further dented their hopes by dismissing Paul Walter at 80/6.

Despite the challenge, Daniel Sams posed a threat to Somerset with a blistering 45 off just 26 balls. However, just as Essex was eyeing a remarkable victory, Sams’ attempt to add another boundary was thwarted by a brilliant one-handed diving catch from Somerset’s Tom Kohler-Cadmore. With that catch, Somerset clinched their first Blast title in 18 years.

Reflecting on the win, Somerset captain Lewis Gregory expressed his delight, stating, “[It feels] pretty damn good. I’ve been to finals day many, many times, and this is a special feeling to get over the line tonight.”

Essex skipper Simon Harmer conceded that Somerset outplayed them, acknowledging the exceptional bowling performance by Somerset’s bowlers.

In the earlier semi-finals of the day, Somerset secured a 24-run victory over Surrey, while Essex defeated defending champions Hampshire by five wickets in a rain-affected match decided by the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method.

Overall, it was an enthralling day of cricket, culminating in Somerset’s well-deserved victory and the end of their 18-year wait for the T20 Blast title.