Hampshire vs Somerset, 2nd Semi-Final at Birmingham, , Aug 27 2011 - Ball by Ball Commentary

So, it's taken most of a showery Saturday, but that is that for the semis. Coming straight up, Somerset v Leicestershire in the Friends Life t20 Final. Don't go further than a different browser window ... in fact, this one will do ...

Dominic Cork, whose exceptional final over set up all that excitement, says it was a good advert for Twenty20, and he's quite right. Last year's winners have been vanquished by last year's runners-up. As for Cork's future at Hampshire ... "Whatever happens to Dominic Cork, it's not about Dominic Cork here."

"The weather's been tough on us, but we've played some fantastic cricket," says Trescothick. Somerset will be favourites for the final, but Tresco predicts a lot of hard work. As he would.

Meanwhile, Joss Buttler is the Man of the Match. "I messed it up," he admits after the manner of his dismissal in the main event. "I play instinctively, see ball, hit ball..." He's not had time to digest his England call-up and little wonder ...

6.28pm Wow. This has been a sensational day in spite of all the rain, and we haven't even got to the final yet! The toss for that will take place in two minutes' time ... no rest for the wicked ... and the start will be at 7pm

Alfonso Thomas, what were you thinking? "Not a lot really. I didn't test Afridi with the short ball in the first innings, so it was a gamble I took and it paid off fortunately..." So there you go

________________________________________________

Here we go ...

Ball One Bouncer! And Afridi can't make contact! Great start, a dot ball

Ball Two Slower-ball bouncer! Afridi hopes it's called wide, but no! Another dot ...

Ball Three Yorker, but Afridi's onto this one. Arrow-straight drive for four

Ball Four WICKET Short again, pulled one-handed in the air to deep midwicket, Suppiah takes the catch, and that's another dot!

Ball Five Full length, outside off, an agricultural club to midwicket for one, and Thomas celebrates victory already

Ball Six A swing and a miss, and Somerset are through to the final

______________________________________________

It's Super Over Time! Here come Buttler and Kieswetter for Somerset, and sure enough, the canny old Afridi will be the bowler for Hampshire

Ball One Great length from Afridi, pushed to mid-on, but the bowler has to field the ball himself, so they run two with ease

Ball Two Too short, squirted through the covers, backward of point. Stayed leg-side and it's four

Ball Three One run there, as point cuts off the shot

Ball Four First ball four for Buttler! Slammed through cover

Ball Five Yorker, dug out to gully. Another single

Ball Six Clever from Kieswetter! Uses the pace, and scoops a four over his shoulder for four.

Somerset make 16. It's competitive ...

Alfonso Thomas has the honour of bowling the Super Over for Somerset. James Vince is padded up for Hampshire, Afridi and Adams will take the field...

If the scores are still level here, it comes down to a boundary countback. And with three of them in their 16, Hampshire would be well-placed in that scenario

_____________________________________________________

It's a Super Over, and how on earth did Somerset blow that position!

Who to turn to for this million-dollar shootout? I suspect Joss Buttler will still be padded up ... as for the bowler, I'd chuck it to Afridi, personally...

The nominees have to be given to the umpires in writing to guard against any trickery...

Arul Suppiah hasn't faced a ball yet. This next delivery is worth a few bob ... the keeper comes up, massive conflab between the senior Hampshire players. Cork has called for a helmet, and wants a short leg! One of his trademark blustering bouncers ..? Hustled out by Corkie, that would be a fitting way to go ...

Barring miracles, this game is over ... here's Afridi to provide that miracle

It's ten an over from here ...