Vitality Blast Final: Northamptonshire beat Hampshire to clinch third title after clash at Edgbaston | cricket news

Northamptonshire won their first Vitality Blast title in a decade and third overall with a thrilling 14-run victory over Hampshire in Saturday’s Edgbaston final.

Steelbacks pacer Luke Proctor (2-25) took two wickets in the last over with veteran Ben Sanderson (2-26) hitting back-to-back balls, including Hampshire top-scorer Joe Weatherly (75 from 53 balls) caught in the deep by captain David Wilsing for 5. 170 in Birmingham

Northants collapsed to 169 in the 16th over from 138-2 in 19.5 after a remarkable collapse of 8-31, during which they lost five wickets in eight balls and Hampshire’s livewire England seamer Sonny Baker (5-21), who claimed three scalps on the first day of an over, became the first man in five overs.

However, Willie’s side, for whom Ricardo Vasconcelos made 88 off 59 deliveries, roared back as James Sales – son of Northants legend David Sales – took 3-25, including a key scalp of Hawks skipper James Vince (17) at the end of the powerplay.

Leg-spinner Calvin Harrison also bowled Tristan Stubbs (2) with a beauty that was pitched around the leg stump before Hampshire fell short, despite the best efforts of Weatherley, who made an unbeaten 58-ball 88 in the semi-final win over Notts Outlaws.

Baker was the last out, bowled by Sanderson for the Wild Steelbacks to celebrate and condemn Hampshire to a second successive runners-up finish, following defeat to Somerset in last year’s showpiece.

Northants’ victory, which denied Hampshire a record fourth title, follows success in 2013 and 2016, with Northants now joint-most trophies in the T20 competition’s 24-year history alongside Somerset, Leicestershire and Hampshire.

Northants rebound from batting disaster at Edgbaston

In the end, Northants – who brilliantly defended 143 all out against defending champions Somerset in Saturday’s first semi-final as Willey took 3-17 and played his part with a wonderful relay catch – were not left to rue their surprise collapse.

With Vasconcelos scintillating and Lewis McManus (22 off 17) running well, the Steelbacks looked likely to post a total of 190 or 200, only for McManus to bowl Scott Curry (2-38) at deep square leg to start a great Hampshire comeback.

Baker, who had earlier bounced the dangerous Chris Lynn (4), cleaned up Vasconcelos at the end of the 17th over as he exposed his stumps before Sales (0) and Louis Kimber (0) pinned Harrison (1) lbw in the 19th over.

Hampshire’s catching was electric, with Vince claiming back-pedaling 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) fell to Willey’s first ball, before Sels caught Hilton Cartwright (11) with a yorker to make Castle 90-5 in the 12th over.

A 48-run stand between Weatherly and England all-rounder Liam Dawson (35 off 18 balls) revived Hampshire, only for Proctor to run out in the 17th over for the next run, with the Northants needing 32 runs to restore faith.

Proctor proceeded to bowl James Fuller (3) and Curry in the space of three balls in the 19th over, before Sanderson called the final, dismissing Weatherly – who recorded the most runs on a finals day – and then steamrolling Baker.

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