Taunton Deane crowned U16 Somerset Smash champions
Taunton Deane were crowned 2026 U16 Somerset Smash champions on Sunday, chasing down Congresbury’s total by 7 wickets in a thrilling finish at a brilliant Finals Day held at Lansdown Cricket Club.
Deane Captain Cole Norman won the toss and elected to bowl first in the 100-ball fixture, which went down to the final overs.
Congresbury navigated the opening five-ball sets before Munesu Nhete (2-32) dismissed Sai Patel (8) and Harry Emler (0) in back-to-back deliveries, bringing the score to 26-2 off 14 deliveries.
Josh Palmer (28) and Reuben Lewis-Jones (41*) steadied the innings, adding 40 runs over the next 31 balls, before Palmer was dismissed by Jack Hardy (2-28), who then removed Oliver Hewlett (0) two balls later, leaving Congresbury 67-4 from 47 balls.
Om Patel (4) and Lewis-Jones brought the score steadily to 86 from 70 deliveries before Patel was dismissed by Step (1-23).
With the innings seemingly stalling, incoming batter James Hatherall fought back, hitting three fours and three sixes on his way to an impressive 39 off 21, before being dismissed by Norman (1-3) on the 97th delivery, leaving Congresbury 142-6. The final three deliveries brought a single run to the total, ending Congresbury’s innings on 143-6, with Lewis-Jones carrying his bat through the innings for 41 off 38 deliveries, including five fours.
Jack Perry (50*) and Zac Salter (8) began Deane’s chase, putting on 30 off 16 balls before Salter was run out, bringing Ben Frowde (24) to the crease. Perry and Frowde calmly navigated the Congresbury bowlers, sharing a match defining partnership between them, before Perry reached his half-century off 33 balls, including seven fours and two sixes.
Frowde was dismissed by Matthew Kirwan (1-19) soon after, bringing Leon Dunne (30*) and Ed Coad (13) to the crease with the score 99-2 off 58 deliveries. The next 35 deliveries saw Congresbury swing the momentum back in their favour, thanks to the bowling of Adam Shoesmith (0-19), James Hatherall (0-23) and Dylan Smart (0-27).
Dunne and Coad’s partnership of 36 ultimately brought Deane within touching distance of Congresbury’s target before Sai Patel (1-24) dismissed Coad on the 89th ball, with the score at 135-3.
With 9 needed for victory, following an unfortunate string of no balls, Taunton Deane sealed a 7-wicket win to be crowned 2026 U16 Somerset Smash champions.
SCF would like to thank Team Managers Keith Woodman (Taunton Deane) and Ben Hewlett (Congresbury), umpires Robin Scott and Simon Parsons, scorers Matt Frowde and Jen Kirwan, and finally all the spectators and players for contributing to a fantastic showcase of Finals cricket.
Taunton Deane crowned U19 Club T20 Blast champions
Taunton Deane were crowned 2026 U19 Club T20 Blast champions on Sunday, chasing down Bath’s total by 6 wickets with three balls to spare in a high scoring finish at Lansdown Cricket Club.
Batting first, Bath lost Sam Simmons (7) to James Salt with the score on 13 in the third over. Freddie Stappard (19) added 25 alongside Alexander Moss before falling caught behind off Tom Baines, before Max O’Farrell (2) was caught by Ralph Dunne off Shafin Akhtar, leaving Bath 63-3 after eight overs.
Alexander Moss (35 off 26, including 3 fours and a six) and Spencer Gammon (21 off 14, with 4 fours) then took the innings forward, before Shafin Akhtar removed Moss, Gammon and George Wylie (0) inside the space of three overs to move Bath to 95-6. Akhtar finished with excellent figures of 4-22 from his four overs.
Jack Pippett (6) added 23 with Luke Welsh before being stumped off Benny Jessep, and Robert Patch (4) fell lbw to Cole Norman soon after. Luke Welsh (30 off 31, with 3 fours) anchored the tail before becoming Jack Blackwell’s wicket off the final ball of the innings, as Bath were bowled out for 140 in the 20th over.
Taunton Deane’s chase began brightly but lost early wickets, with Ralph Dunne (5) bowled by Spencer Gammon inside the second over, and Jack Blackwell (11) caught by Freddie Stappard off Peter Biggs soon after, leaving Deane 30-2 after three overs.
Benny Jessep then produced a blistering cameo, striking 4 fours and 2 sixes on his way to 35 off just 17 balls, sharing a rapid stand before falling to Jacob Lewis with the score on 56-3 off 5 overs.
With Max Smyth – Lees (32*) & Shafin Akhtar (41) now at the crease, the pair steadied Deane’s innings, adding 59 together thanks particularly to Akhtar who top scored for Deane with a well constructed 41 off 43 balls including 5 fours and a six, before also falling to Jacob Lewis, caught by Freddie Stappard, leaving the score at 115-4 off 15 overs and the game very much in the balance.
Bath pulled the game back following tight spells from Lewis, Welsh & Wylie, before Smyth-Lees and Xander Chilcott (10*) saw Taunton Deane home, guiding their side to 145-4 off 19.3 overs to seal the U19 Club T20 Blast title by 6 wickets.
SCF would like to thank all Team Manager Max Smyth – Lees (Taunton Deane) and Josh Norgrove – Gray (Bath) umpires Robin Scott & Simon Parsons scorers Matt Frowde & Luke Russam and the spectators and players for contributing to a fantastic showcase of Finals cricket.
