Somerset start strong; holders Gloucestershire slip narrowly while Budinger’s blitz seal’s win

The T20 Blast opened with a series of thrilling matches that saw last season’s finalists Somerset triumph over Surrey, while holders Gloucestershire stumbled in a tense encounter. Across England, batters unleashed spectacular innings, including Sol Budinger’s blistering 15-ball fifty, just shy of the tournament’s fastest half-century record.

At Taunton, Somerset put on a commanding performance to edge past Surrey by five wickets. Despite a remarkable 92 from England’s Jason Roy, Surrey struggled to post 146-9, thanks largely to disciplined bowling from New Zealand’s Matt Henry (3-21) and Australia’s Riley Meredith (3-26). Roy’s aggressive assault included seven towering sixes, but his effort was left stranded as only one other Surrey batter, Sam Curran, reached double figures with 22.

Somerset’s chase had its moments of uncertainty after losing openers Tom Banton (23) and Will Smeed (35), removed by Curran and Yousef Majid. However, a calm finish from Ben Green (23*) and captain Tom Abell (29*) guided Somerset home with 13 balls to spare, affirming their status as one of the tournament favorites.

Meanwhile, Gloucestershire, the defending champions, suffered a narrow four-run loss to Kent Spitfires in Bristol. Kent’s solid total of 208-3 was anchored by Daniel Bell-Drummond’s 60 and Joe Denly’s unbeaten 48. Gloucestershire’s chase stumbled early but saw a spirited revival led by Ollie Price’s 51 and captain Jack Taylor’s quickfire 23. Despite a strong finish from David Payne and Ben Charlesworth, Kent held firm to deny the champions.

In Southampton, James Vince marked his return with a polished 62 as Hampshire Hawks overwhelmed Essex by 106 runs. Vince’s 25-ball half-century helped set a formidable 230-7 total, bolstered by Dewald Brevis’s destructive 68, featuring six sixes. Essex’s reply faltered disastrously, folding for 124, despite a resilient 51 from Michael Pepper.

North Group matches were equally gripping. Nottinghamshire Outlaws exacted revenge against Warwickshire Bears at Trent Bridge. Warwickshire posted a hefty 226-5, powered by Sam Hain’s six sixes in an unbeaten 92. However, Nottinghamshire’s response was explosive. Captain Joe Clarke set the tone with 58 from 23 balls before the impressive Jack Haynes carried the chase with an unbeaten 89, sealing victory with five balls to spare.

The day’s highest-scoring encounter unfolded at Headingly, where Northamptonshire Steelbacks and Yorkshire Vikings combined for a staggering 461 runs. Steelbacks’ David Willey smashed six sixes in a rapid 54, hitting his fifty off just 20 balls. Alongside Justin Broad’s 67, Willey’s efforts propelled the hosts to 237-4.

Yorkshire began poorly, losing three early wickets, but James Wharton and Will Sutherland rallied with 58 and steady contributions. Willey’s three wickets and sharp fielding helped restrict Yorkshire to 224, falling 13 runs short of an epic chase.

Leicestershire Foxes carried momentum from their red-ball success into the T20 Blast, beating Derbyshire Falcons by five wickets. Derbyshire struggled early, falling to 51-5 before Martin Andersson’s unbeaten 70 stabilized their innings. However, Leicestershire’s Sol Budinger stole the show, smashing 28 runs off a single over en route to a 15-ball fifty, just two balls slower than the record set by Marcus Trescothick in 2010.

Budinger’s aggressive innings laid the foundation for an eight-wicket win, with Pakistan Test captain Shan Masood’s unbeaten 45 guiding the Foxes home with balls to spare. Afghan spinner Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar claimed two wickets, but it was not enough to prevent Leicestershire’s clinical finish.

The T20 Blast opener proved a rollercoaster of excitement, featuring dominant batting displays, tight finishes, and surprising upsets. Somerset’s strong start and Leicestershire’s explosive form suggest a fiercely competitive tournament ahead, while holders Gloucestershire will look to regroup after their narrow loss.