Tom Kohler-Cadmore produced one of the catches of 2023 to seal Somerset’s first T20 Blast title in 18 years.
Using four wickets, New Zealand spinner Matt Henry helped Somerset defeat Essex by 14 runs in the Edgbaston final on Saturday night.
Before Somerset cruised to a 24-run victory over Surrey on Finals Day, Essex defeated the defending champions Hampshire by five wickets.
The 2019 winners won the toss and immediately chose to bat. Somerset made a meagre 145 runs off of their 20 overs.
Sean Dickson scored 53 runs off 35 balls, but it appeared that his high total was in vain as Essex racked up 27 runs without a wicket in their first two overs.
After that, they started to falter and went on to suffer a massive top-order collapse, losing five wickets for only 28 runs.
Daniel Sams then gave Essex a chance to win the game again with three sixes after scoring 45 off of 26 balls.
Essex was left requiring 15 runs from ten balls, and Sams’ edge off a Henry delivery appeared to be heading straight for the boundary.
To leave Essex all out for 131, Kohler-Cadmore, though, managed to snag a soaring ball with his left hand at backward point.
“I’m really glad that everyone stood the entire tournament and that we truly competed as a team.
“I think that’s pretty special because there isn’t a single player on the team who you could say hasn’t won us a game.”
“I’ve been to finals day many, many times, but this is a special feeling to get over the line tonight,” said Somerset captain Lewis Gregory.
“Everyone see’s Somerset as the nearly man, and it becomes harder each time you come back. I was just praying we had a couple of guys who were having on of those days where you just can’t stop them.
As Somerset won a spectacular second T20 Blast championship, it brought about joyful reactions from the players and spectators at Edgbaston.
Speaking to Sky Sports about his catch, Kohler-Cadmore said: “I think if it was someone who was a better mover they’d step across and catch it two-handed.
“But it doesn’t look as good two-handed. Luckily I saw it all the way, it’s one of those that either sticks or doesn’t, thankfully for me it did stick.
The rewards are justifiable because we worked so hard all day.
