Somerset keep faith in process in bid to end Finals Day pain

Somerset topped the South Group (which provided all four semi-finalists in this year's Blast) with a record 12 wins from 14. Somerset have the leading wicket-taker in the competition and the most consistently destructive top three going around. Somerset are at Finals Day for the third year running and just two more wins from securing their second T20 title.

At which point, if you are a Somerset fan, you're already beginning to fear the worst.

Since winning the third edition of the Twenty20 Cup back in 2005, Somerset have been to Finals Day and had their hopes dashed seven times. Throw in the six County Championship runners-up finishes since the turn of the century and you can see why they might be wary of ending up on bridesmaid duty once again.

Tom Abell has been involved in the three most-recent episodes of Edgbaston heartbreak, in 2018, 2021 and 2022, and captained the side in last year's semi-final defeat to eventual winners Hampshire. He has since handed the reins back to Lewis Gregory (skipper when losing to Kent in the final two years ago) and conceded that the hurdles Somerset must overcome are mental as much as those presented by the opposition.

"We've been here the last few years and we're obviously desperate to try and get over the line," Abell said. "Of course, when you've had a couple of experiences, I think you probably you want it that little bit more and you care so much about it, that you almost forget the most important things, which is to try and trust what's been working for us.

"We've obviously been playing so well through the group stages. But we know that counts for very little, all that matters is how you play and how you turn up on Finals Day."

Abell was also refusing to set much store by Somerset's form to this point, which has seen them win 13 games overall while picking up 131 wickets - another competition record. They finished six points clear at the top of the South Group, although one of their two defeats did come against semi-final opponents Surrey.

"I don't really think that [topping the group] counts for too much tomorrow," Abell said. "As I say it's all about who turns up and plays the best cricket on the day. Obviously, every team has got to know each other pretty well. We play each other both home and away in the group stages and yeah, four very dangerous teams. There's matchwinners in each team. I guess that's what we love about T20, anyone on their day can beat anyone.

"But we're in pretty confident mood. I think the way we've been playing, we've had some really strong performances and so probably the most pleasing thing for us has been some of those games where maybe we haven't been at our best, still finding a way to win. So I think there's a lot to be said for that as well."

Somerset did come through a significant test in their quarter-final against Nottinghamshire, when they recovered from 62 for 5 at the halfway stage chasing 158 to win. With the big guns at the top of the order having failed, it was left to Gregory and Ben Green to get them over the line with an unbroken 96-run stand. "We certainly feel like we've got match-winners [from] one to 11 and we're pretty clear with our roles within the team," Abell said.

"We know we're capable of beating any team if we play to our abilities. So we like to believe that the last few years will put us in good stead. But of course, you know, what's gone before and what's gone this season counts for very little. It's all about who deals with those pressure moments the best and as I say, there's been times when we've been really tested this year, and I think we've come out the other side. We're pretty happy with where we're at as a side and I'm just excited for tomorrow."

Somerset look to have all the tools needed to end their hoodoo. Green's medium-pace has reaped a competition-leading 27 wickets, with New Zealand quick Matt Henry not far behind on 24, while the signing of Henry's compatriot Ish Sodhi as a late injury replacement gives them a wristspin option to go alongside Roelof van der Merwe's left-arm darts.

Then at the top of the order is the unholy trinity of Tom Banton, Will Smeed and Tom Kohler-Cadmore - all of whom have scored 400-plus runs at strike-rates north of 150 this season.

"TKC has been an absolutely phenomenal signing for us across formats, and obviously having Smeedy and Bants at the top as well, both on their day they'll win the game on their own," Abell said.

"For us in the middle order, those top three, the way they've been playing, it make our lives a lot easier. But yeah, I saw something TKC said the other day, 'I think everybody's contributed at some point through the competition'. And if you want to go all the way, we're going to need that tomorrow as well. So, we pride ourselves on being a team. And we've certainly shown that through the competition and I think we've built belief and trust in each other. So we're going into tomorrow in really confident mood."