Steelbacks hold final nerves to overcome Hawks
By Connor Steel
HAMPSHIRE HAWKS were heartbreakingly denied a fourth T-20 Vitality Blast title as they played Northamptonshire Steelbacks in their 2026 Final tie on Saturday night (July 18); eventually falling to a fourteen run loss as the bowlers held their nerve in an entertaining match that followed semi-final wins for both teams earlier in the day at Edgbaston.
The Hawks chose to field first and got their rewards as Chris Lynn (4) was caught off Sonny Baker’s first over off the fine leg; Northamptonshire responding through Ricardo Vasconcelos and Nathan McSweeney. This pair added sixty runs in just six overs with brilliant boundary hitting, before the latter was dismissed for thirty as he was trapped LBW.
Another sixty-nine runs were added between Vasconcelos and Lewis McManus (22) within 44 balls before the latter was caught aiming for a huge boundary; leaving them 138-2 with just under five overs left to bowl. Vasconcelos was further dismissed for eighty-eight runs including eleven fours and two sixes; the first of six wickets to slip off 12 balls.
David Willey (11) and Saif Zaib were removed off James Fuller in the eighteenth over, whilst Baker’s fourth over had three further wickets including a duck for Louis Kimber to leave the Steelbacks on 160-9. Ben Sanderson did hit one huge maximum during the last six balls of the innings but was caught for 8 as they finished this batting on 169 all out.
Hampshire lost their first wicket within one minute of their response as Toby Albert was caught for a ‘golden duck’ off Willey; which brought James Vince together with Joe Weatherley as they tried replicating their semi-final partnership. They made a fine start as they added forty-runs before Vince (17) ended the powerplay with a catch for Vasconcelos.
Weatherley remained at this crease and broke the record of most runs on a single Finals Day but ultimately didn’t get support as Ben Mayes was bowled for nine runs and Tristan Stubbs (2) was dismissed in the eleventh over. Although Hilton Cartwright added 11 from four balls he was bowled to leave them 93-5 and up against the rate with 8 overs left.
Liam Dawson gave Hampshire an outside chance as he hit five long boundaries and joined with Weatherley reaching his own fifty, but the former was run out for 35 after miscommunication. Luke Procter then dismissed Scott Currie and Fuller in three balls as Weatherley made it to 75 but he and Baker (0) were removed by Sanderson to seal the victory.
A disappointing conclusion for Hampshire’s twenty-20 campaign must now be overcome as their attentions turn to the Metro Bank One Day Cup where they travel up to Yorkshire on Tuesday for their first match. Many players will also be playing in The Hundred as it starts on the same day, with Southern Brave hosting Welsh Fire on Wednesday (July 22).
PICTURED BY ALAMY (3F2G86H): Northamptonshire players react after the early ‘LBW decision’ which wasn’t given.
