Northamptonshire Steelbacks are back in the T20 Blast final for the first time since 2016 after beating Somerset by 17 runs in their semi-final at Edgbaston on July 18, 2026.
The Steelbacks held off the defending champions by defending 143 all out, with David Willey leading the way with 3-17. Somerset were restricted to 126-9 in 20 overs as Northamptonshire sealed their place in the final at Edgbaston.
For Willey, the performance fit the broader shape of a disciplined team effort. Northamptonshire needed control with the ball after putting up a modest total, and they found it through wickets at key moments. That kept Somerset from building the kind of chase that can quickly swing a knockout game.
Ricardo Vasconcelos was part of the Steelbacks side that delivered the result, and the win gives Northamptonshire a chance to chase a trophy they last won in 2016. That history matters here. The club has now turned a strong knockout run into a shot at adding a second title, while Somerset's defeat ends a campaign in which they had reached a sixth consecutive Finals Day.
How Northamptonshire controlled the semi-final
The match turned on Northamptonshire's bowling response after their batters were limited to 143 all out. Somerset were unable to fully capitalize, and the Steelbacks kept applying pressure throughout the 20-over chase.
Willey's 3-17 was the standout spell, but the larger takeaway was how Northamptonshire kept Somerset to 126-9. In a semi-final, that kind of control is usually enough to decide the game, especially against a side with recent title-winning experience.
Northamptonshire will now head into the T20 Blast final with momentum and a clear sense of what got them there: a lower-order total, disciplined bowling and a captain who delivered in the biggest moments.
