Super Steelbacks dig deep to secure stunning Vitality Blast title success

David Willey's side produced a performance full of heart, grit, determination and no little skill to secure a 14-run success and claim a third T20 Blast title, and their first for 10 years.

Opener Ricardo Vasconcelos hit a superb 88 from 59 balls to seemingly set the Steelbacks up for a big score as they reached 138 for two in the 16th over.

But Lewis McManus' dismissal for 22 sparked a collapse as Northants lost their last eight wickets on a tricky surface for just 31 runs in the space of just 4.3 overs.

England fast bowler Sonny Baker was the catalyst as he roared in to claim five for 20 in his four overs, proving to be just too quick and too straight for the Northants batters to handle.

That meant, as was the case in the semi-final win over Somerset earlier in the day, the bowlers needed to get the Steelbacks out of a hole - and they did it again!

Incredibly, as he did against Somerset, Willey claimed a wicket with the first ball of the innings, and the Steelbacks just kept plugging away, taking key wickets at crucial times, and keeping themselves in the chase, with James Sales taking three for 25 and Luke Procter two for 25 – claiming two huge wickets in the 19th over.

Going into the final over, Hawks needed 15 to win with Joe Weatherley, unbeaten on 75, and facing Ben Sanderson.

He went for a huge hit off the first ball but picked out Willey on the long-on boundary, and the skipper took the catch.

Sanderson then bowled Baker for a first-ball duck and it was all over! The Steelbacks celebrations could begin.

Northants had named an unchanged team from their semi-final win over Somerset, and just like in that game, were asked to bat after losing the toss.

And again, they lost an early wicket.

This time it was former Hawks man Chris Lynn, who paddled a sharp Baker ball round the corner to be caught by Chris Wood.

There were to be no further mishaps in the powerplay though, as Vasconcelos and Nathan McSweeney calmly saw the Steelbacks to 61 for one, the latter racing to 27 from just 11 balls without taking any real risks.

The Australian was playing so well, but for was pinned lbw for 30 from 16 balls by a delivery from James Fuller that nipped back to leave the Steelbacks 69 for two.

Umpire James Middlebrook didn’t give it, but Hawks reviewed it, and the DRS confirmed the dismissal.

Vasconcelos was still batting beautifully, and he reached a deserved 50 from just 33 balls in the ninth over after pulling James Fuller for back-to-back fours – the eighth and ninth of his innings.

By the end of the 10th over, the Steelbacks had reached 90 for two and were well set.

McManus was pushed up the order, and although he smashed an early six into the Hollies, he was struggling to execute the big hits required, although Vasconcelos was still whirring away at the other end, producing a high quality six over extra cover off the bowling of Liam Dawson to move into the 80s.

McManus did get hold of one and hammer Scott Currie back over his head for a straight six, and was then out the next ball for 22 from 17, the right-hander trying to clear square leg but being caught and Steelbacks were 138 for three.

Vasconcelos’ brilliant innings ended in the 17th over as he was beaten for pace by Baker to be bowled for a superb 88 from 59 balls, hitting 11 fours and two sixes, and Northants were 148 for four with three overs to play.

Willey tried to up the pace and deposited Fuller back over his head for a huge six, but went the next ball trying to repeat the trick and Northants were 158 for five.

Saif Zaib went for a golden duck the very next ball, swinging Fuller to deep square leg where he was caught, and things were starting to fall apart at 158 for six.

It was 159 for seven two balls later when Calvin Harrison was pinned lbw by Baker and Baker then clean bowled Louis Kimber for a duck and at 160 for eight, the Steelbacks had lost five wickets for just 12 runs.

That was six wickets for 12 as James Sales was cleaned up by Baker.

There was very brief respite as Sanderson hit Currie for a six, but he was out next ball and for the second time in the day the Steelbacks were bowled out, this time for 169.

Amazingly, just as against Somerset, Willey claimed a wicket with the first ball of the innings and in identical fashion too, as Toby Albert edged a ball angled across him to wicket-keeper McManus.

But there was to be no quickfire follow-up wickets this time as the Hawks eased to 40 without further damage in the sixth – but then Sales struck, the ball getting big on James Vince as he top edged an attempted pull and Vasconcelos ran across from extra-cover to claim the catch at mid-off.

After Hampshire had reached 68 in the 10th over, Sales made the breakthrough again, Ben Mayes going for a big hit but only succeeding in picking out Harrison at deep mid-wicket in front of the Hollies Stand.

Harrison produced an absolute peach of a delivery to bowl Tristan Stubbs for two and Hawks were rocking at 77 for four.

Dangerman Weatherley was still there though, and he brought his 50 up from just 35 balls in the 12th over.

Hilton Cartwright entered the fray with intent and raced to 11 off four balls, but Sales once again did the business, bowling him with a full, straight ball and Hawks were 90 for five after 11.5, still needing 80 to win.

Going into the final six overs, that target was down to 66, and it was anybody’s game, although Hawks still looked favourites.

Weatherley and Liam Dawson looked to be seeing their side home as they pushed the score to 135 in the 17th, but then a horrible mix-up ended with Dawson being run out by Procter for 35 from 19 balls, and there was life in the Steelbacks’ challenge again.

The Steelbacks kept going, and when Procter bowled Fuller in the 19th over, Hawks were 153 for seven, still 17 shy of their target with nine balls to go.

Two balls later, Procter struck again, bowling Currie and at 155 for eight, Hawks were the team in danger of being bowled out.

And that is exactly what happened as Sanderson struck twice in the first two balls of the last over the seal a fantastic victory.

Teams

Steelbacks: Ricardo Vasconcelos, Chris Lynn, Nathan McSweeney, David Willey (c), Saif Zaib, Louis Kimber, Calvin Harrison, Lewis McManus (wk), James Sales, Luke Procter, Ben Sanderson

Hampshire Hawks: Toby Albert (wk), James Vince (c), Joe Weatherley, Ben Mayes, Tristan Stubbs, Hilton Cartwright, James Fuller, Scott Currie, Liam Dawson, Chris Wood, Sonny Baker

Hampshire won the toss