Ricardo Vasconcelos’ 88 Powers Northamptonshire to T20 Blast Glory

Northamptonshire 169 (Vasconcelos 88, Baker 5-21) beat Hampshire 155 (Weatherley 75, Sales 3-25) by 14 runs

Despite 24 editions of T20 Finals Day, the tournament’s marquee match continues to deliver fresh surprises. For the first time, a bowler captured a five‑wicket haul in either the semi‑final or final, achieved by Sonny Baker. Likewise, no player had previously scored fifties in both the semi‑final and final until Joe Weatherley accomplished it. Yet, remarkably, neither performance secured victory, as Northamptonshire’s collective resilience ultimately prevailed, securing the Blast title in a dramatic final‑over finish.
In a see‑saw contest, David Willey’s Central/West Group side emerged victorious at Edgbaston. After being asked to bat again—mirroring the first semi‑final—Northamptonshire were reinforced by Ricardo Vasconcelos, whose career‑best 88 off 59 deliveries—including his maiden half‑century of the season—was undone by a dramatic collapse in which they lost their final eight wickets for just 31 runs, with Baker taking four of those wickets by aggressively targeting the stumps.

For the second time in the day, Northamptonshire refused to concede defeat. Willey opened the innings with a wicket on the first ball. While Weatherley navigated the opposition with a well‑paced innings to keep Hampshire in contention, Northamptonshire consistently claimed crucial wickets as the required run rate climbed above ten per over.

Liam Dawson briefly shifted momentum for Hampshire with 35 runs off 18 balls during a 48‑run partnership with Weatherley. However, Luke Procter remained composed, effecting a run‑out of Dawson and later securing two wickets while conceding only seven runs in the 19th over. With 15 runs needed off the final six deliveries, Weatherley struck a lofted shot that Willey caught at long‑on, sealing a third T20 title for Northamptonshire—a triumph achieved a decade after their previous triumph.

Ricardo Vasconcelos posted his highest T20 tally of 88•Harry Trump/Getty Images

Willey up for the scrap (again)
Willey was again eager for the challenge. He cited the confident demeanor of Somerset’s side after Northamptonshire posted only 143 in the first semi‑final, which motivated him for an inspirational performance. Hampshire, aware of his threat, sought to avoid provoking him further after he delivered another flawless opening spell. Toby Albert was unsettled by a swinging first ball that he appeared not to have struck, yet elected not to review the decision—an oversight fortunately confirmed by UltraEdge, which supported the on‑field umpire’s judgment.

Northamptonshire believed they had reduced Hampshire to 6 for 2 at the start of the second over when James Vince was dismissed leg‑before‑wicket on the opening ball. He promptly reviewed the decision, and ball‑tracking confirmed that the delivery from Ben Sanderson was clipping the stumps. Vince soon found his rhythm, driving for four through mid‑off off Willey, and then launching three consecutive boundaries off Sanderson in the following over. Vince further accelerated by lofting Procter over mid‑wicket, but Northamptonshire responded, with Vince top‑edging James Sales to mid‑off, leaving Hampshire 40 for 2 at the end of the powerplay.

Joe Weatherley posted half‑centuries in both the semi and the final•Matt Lewis/ECB via Getty Images

Weatherley carries the fight in vain
Weatherley carried the fight in vain. Having guided Hampshire to a winning total of 88 not out in the semi‑final, he again delivered a half‑century in the final, surpassing Luke Wright’s record for most runs in a single Finals Day (125). He opened Saif Zaib’s over with successive boundaries and cut Sales for another, but lost another partner when Ben Mayes holed out in the tenth, leaving Hampshire at 70 for 3 at the halfway mark, still needing 100 runs.

Weatherley responded instantly to the mounting scoring rate, striking Harrison high over deep midwicket for his first six. However, Harrison answered with a sharp leg break that dismissed Tristan Stubbs’ off‑stump in the same over, and Sales claimed his third wicket by yorking Hilton Cartwright. In the interim, Weatherley reached a 35‑ball fifty, but at 90 for 5 after 12 overs Hampshire began to feel the pressure. Although Dawson’s cameo kept the target within reach, a run‑out of him left too much for the lower order, and the final four wickets fell for just two runs, concluding Hampshire’s campaign for a second consecutive final defeat.

Lynn’s Hampshire reunion
Last year, Chris Lynn became the first player to score a century in a T20 Final, his 51‑ball 108 not out for Hampshire virtually single‑handedly eliminating Northamptonshire (the next highest score was 12). This summer, back at Wantage Road, Lynn aimed to make amends by amassing over 500 runs, including two centuries—five of his eight T20 hundreds having come for Northamptonshire. However, his impact against his former teammates was limited, as he miscued a pull shot off Baker in the second over.

That was the sole wicket Northamptonshire lost during the powerplay. Vasconcelos, driving and pulling Wood before striking three fours off Scott Currie’s opening over, and Nathan McSweeney, who ramped Baker’s pace for a six over fine leg, steadily accelerated the scoring, leaving the team well‑placed at 61 for 1 after six overs.

Vasconcelos makes mark
McSweeney failed to advance further, being dismissed lbw on review for the second time that day after scoring 30 off 16 balls. Northamptonshire promoted Lewis McManus to number four, likely to preserve a left‑right batting combination, and he settled in as Vasconcelos accelerated with his first half‑century of the campaign. Dawson was swept twice behind square for consecutive boundaries, but then struck a pair of powerful pulls off James Fuller, taking his score to fifty off 33 deliveries.

Northamptonshire were 90 for 2 at the halfway stage and continued to increase the scoring rate: McManus launched a massive pull off Wood into the Eric Hollies Stand, and Vasconcelos claimed his first six of the innings by lofting Fuller straight back down the ground on his 39th ball. After two wicket‑less overs from Dawson and Currie, Vasconcelos re‑ignited the crowd by launching Dawson’s spin over long‑off. McManus subsequently struck Currie’s next delivery for six before being caught at deep square leg, ending their 69‑run partnership.

Sonny Baker claimed five wickets in the final for Hampshire•Harry Trump/Getty Images

Baker’s finish
With four overs remaining and wickets in hand, Northamptonshire aimed to post a total of 180‑190. Baker decisively disproved that notion. An exhausted Vasconcelos was finally dismissed by an 88 mph yorker, and Baker gave away only two runs in the 17th over. Subsequently, Willey was caught for six off Fuller, and Zaib fell for a golden duck, caught low at deep backward square leg by Weatherley.

Bowling full, fast and straight, Baker delivered a decisive final over. Harrison unsuccessfully reviewed an lbw dismissal after attempting a reverse‑ramp; ball‑tracking indicated he was outside the line, and there was nothing fortunate about the dismissals of Louis Kimber and Sales, as Baker twice shattered the stumps to claim his fifth wicket, sealing another Finals Day first. Northamptonshire’s innings collapsed from 148 for 3 to 160 for 9, although the total ultimately proved sufficient.

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