Craig Overton In T20 Blast (Source: X)
Somerset pulled off one of the greatest run chases in ongoing T20 Blast history as Craig Overton produced a sensational unbeaten 79 off just 30 balls to guide his side to a dramatic two-wicket victory against Yorkshire in the quarter-final at Headingley on July 15.
Chasing 162, Somerset looked completely out of the contest after slipping to 82/8 in the 15th over. They still needed 80 runs from just 33 balls, with only the tail left to bat.
However, Craig Overton delivered a remarkable counterattack, taking Somerset over the line and securing their sixth successive Vitality Blast Finals Day appearance.
Craig Overton's Incredible Rescue Act
Walking in at No. 9, Overton found support only from Riley Meredith, who scored just six runs from nine balls.
Despite that, the pair added an unbeaten 80 runs for the 9th wicket in only 32 balls, with Overton doing almost all of the scoring.
The England all-rounder played the innings of his career, finishing unbeaten on 79 from only 30 balls. His explosive knock included eight boundaries and five sixes, scoring at a strike rate of 263.33.
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Earlier in the evening, Overton had also made an impact with the ball by taking two wickets, completing a memorable all-round performance.
Craig Overton Creates Massive Record!
Craig Overton’s magical knock is now the highest individual score ever made by a batter coming in at No. 9 or lower in men’s T20 cricket.
The previous highest score from that position was 74 by Syed Sagar against Haryana in 2013. Mizoram’s KC Cariappa had scored an unbeaten 72 against Sikkim in 2025, while Sri Lanka's Lassana Perera also made 72 for Badureliya Sports Club in 2015.
Australia's Ben Dwarshuis had made 66 runs off just 28 balls for the Sydney Sixers in 2022.
HIGHEST INDIVIDUAL SCORES BATTING AT NUMBER 9 OR BELOW IN T20S:
- 79* - Craig Overton (Somerset) vs Yorkshire, Leeds, 2026*
- 74 - Syed Sagar (Jammu & Kashmir) vs Haryana, Rohtak, 2013
- 72* - KC Cariappa (Mizoram) vs Sikkim, Pune, 2025
- 72 - Lassana Perera (Badureliya Sports Club) vs Colombo CC, Colombo (Nondescripts Cricket Club), 2015
Adam Lyth's 50 Gave Yorkshire Hope
Earlier, Yorkshire chose to bat first after winning the toss and made 161/9. Opener Adam Lyth led the way with 64 runs off 40 balls at a strike-rate of 160.00.
However, Somerset's disciplined bowling prevented Yorkshire from building a much bigger total.
Daniel Sams and Riley Meredith also struck regularly as Yorkshire lost wickets at important stages of the innings. Apart from Lyth, no Yorkshire batter managed to score more than 20 runs.
Somerset's chase began poorly as they lost four wickets inside the powerplay. Thomas Rew, Tom Banton and James Rew were all dismissed for just one run, while Tom Kohler-Cadmore managed only two.
Somerset continued to lose wickets and slumped to 59/7 before falling further to 82/8.
However, Craig Overton produced an unforgettable innings that completely changed the course of the match, sending Somerset into the semi-finals and writing his name into the T20 record books.
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