Somerset Men v Essex Men
Vitality Blast
Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton
Tuesday 08 July 2025, 6:30pm
Essex Men secured their first and long awaited win in this season’s Vitality Blast campaign, against a star studded Surrey side at the Kia Oval.
On Sunday, the Essex fans were treated to a superb all-round performance from the Eagles as Chris Silverwood’s squad enlisted their first victory since April.
Paul Walter powered Essex to their first Vitality Blast victory of the season in dramatic style, as the Eagles edged Surrey in a rain-reduced, final-ball thriller at the Kia Oval.
In a contest shortened to 12 overs per side after heavy rain, Walter blazed a brilliant 55 from just 26 balls, sharing a rapid 64-run opening stand with Michael Pepper (36 off 15) as Essex chased down Surrey’s 141 for six to win by four wickets off the final delivery.
After nine previous South Group matches without a win, Essex were determined to make a statement—and did so in style.
Walter and Pepper tore into the powerplay, taking 50 from the first three overs to lay the perfect platform. Pepper cleared the ropes and found gaps before falling to former Essex spinner Adam Zampa, who threatened to turn the game with a sharp spell of 3 for 14.
Walter continued the charge with a flurry of boundaries, including back-to-back fours off Chris Jordan, before he was caught behind off Sam Curran with 18 still needed.
Charlie Allison and Simon Harmer chipped in, but both fell late, leaving Matt Critchley to calmly carve the final ball to the boundary and seal a memorable win.
ICYMI: Paul Walter
Squad
Director of Cricket Chris Silverwood has selected a 13-player squad to travel down to Taunton for the clash on Tuesday.
Rookies Mackenzie Jones and Charlie Bennett remain in the squad as Sam Cook misses out due to his selection with the England Men’s Test team.
The Opposition: Somerset
Captain: Lewis Gregory
Overseas Players: Riley Meredith (Australia, full competition), Matt Henry (New Zealand, first 11 group matches)
Finals Day Appearances: Ten (2005, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)
Titles: Two (2005, 2023)
2024 Finish: Runners-up
2024 Leading Run-Scorer: Tom Banton (515)
2024 Leading Wicket-Taker: Ben Green (21)
Somerset squad: Lewis Gregory (c), Tom Banton (wk), Will Smeed, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Tom Lammonby, Tom Abell, Sean Dickson, Ben Green, Craig Overton, Lewis Goldsworthy, Matt Henry, Riley Meredith, Jake Ball.
Last Time We Met: Somerset
Will Smeed made top scored as the 2024 runners-up Somerset Men defeated Essex Men in the first Vitality Blast match of the season at the Ambassador Cruise Line Ground.
T20 powerhouse Smeed whacked 81 in 54 balls to canter to an eight-wicket victory, as the outfit from Taunton chased 148 with 25 balls to spare.
Tom Lammonby also chipped in with 36, in a 96-run opening stand, as Somerset’s men avenged the defeat their club-mates suffered in the Women’s Vitality Blast earlier in the day.
Matt Critchley and Dean Elgar scored half-centuries in what were slight positives in the defeat to Somerset following the loss in the opener at Hampshire by 106 runs.
South Group Preview
Click here for Part 1 of the team-by-team preview of each of this year’s South Group contenders.
Click here for Part 2 of the team-by-team preview of each of this year’s South Group contenders.
How To Watch
Tickets are still available for Tuesday’s double header clash at the Cooper Associates County Ground but must be purchased in advance. If you can’t make the journey to Taunton, the match will be broadcast live on Sky Sports for you to watch.
Alternatively, you can head to the Matchzone for a video scorecard, stats and clips of the action.
Purchase your England v India tickets!
The England Men under 19s are playing in a four day Test match at the Ambassador Cruise Line Ground this summer!
They will face India Men under 19s, including 14-year old IPL superstar Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who became the youngest player bought in an IPL auction after being selected by Rajasthan Royals. He is also the youngest player to score a century in IPL history!
Day one will begin on July 20 with the final day concluding on July 23.
Tickets are still available via our Ticket Site, so have a browse and get yourself down to CM2 to watch the next generation of international cricketers.
