Sonny Baker's 5-21 puts Hampshire in Blast final chase
Sonny Baker produced a T20 career-best 5-21 as Hampshire Hawks bowled out Northamptonshire Steelbacks for 169 in the Vitality Blast final at Edgbaston. The Hawks are chasing a first-ever fourth T20 title, while Northants target a third trophy. Mid-chase, Hampshire were 68 for three and needed 102 more runs.
Key Takeaways
- Sonny Baker claimed a T20 career-best 5-21 to dismiss Northamptonshire for 169 in the Vitality Blast final.
- Ricardo Vasconcelos hit a T20 career-best 88, while James Vince took a one-handed catch to end the innings.
- Hampshire, seeking a record fourth T20 title, were 68 for three chasing 170 at Edgbaston.
- Northants earlier beat Somerset by 17 runs; Hampshire beat Notts Outlaws by 27 runs in the semis.
What did Sonny Baker do in the Blast final?
On Finals Day at Edgbaston, Sonny Baker starred with the ball for Hampshire. His five-wicket haul of 5-21 was a T20 career best and dismantled the Steelbacks' batting after they posted 169 in 19.5 overs.
Northamptonshire's innings was built around Ricardo Vasconcelos, who also posted a T20 career-best 88. According to BBC Sport's live coverage, James Vince sealed the innings with a one-handed catch.
Hampshire won the toss and chose to bowl first in the final, putting Baker and the attack in control of the early narrative on a high-pressure Finals Day.
Where does the chase stand for Hampshire?
Chasing 170, Hampshire lost Toby Albert to the first ball of the reply, David Willey finding the edge through to Lewis McManus. Joe Weatherley came in early and was Hampshire's mainstay, reaching 41 not out from 30 balls while the required rate climbed.
Skipper James Vince fell in the powerplay, skying a pull to Ricardo Vasconcelos off James Sales. Eighteen-year-old Ben Mayes arrived under pressure and later fell for nine, caught by Calvin Harrison off Sales, leaving Hampshire 68 for three after 9.4 overs and needing 102 from 62 balls.
Weatherley had already been prolific on the day, scoring an unbeaten 88 in the semi-final win over Nottinghamshire and later setting a Finals Day individual-run record with 129 across the two matches, per BBC reporting.
Why does this Finals Day matter for both sides?
Hampshire are aiming to become the first side to win four men's T20 Blast titles. Northamptonshire are targeting a third Vitality Blast trophy after knocking out defending champions Somerset by 17 runs earlier in the day.
The final is the climax of a long domestic T20 season, and peak performance under that heat is the kind of elite sporting demand readers also explore in our longevity and biohacking coverage. Sky Sports noted domestic cricket continues with The Hundred from 21 July to 16 August.
With Weatherley still there and more than 10 overs left when Hampshire were three down, the chase remained finely balanced after Baker's spell had set the target.