The Top Six No.5

The DIARY

THIS MONTH’S DIARIST

Finals Day heartbreak, last-gasp reprieves, visiting food banks, Phil Salt easy rider, and the wizardry of Harry Brook

By Sonny Baker ENGLAND & HAMPSHIRE FAST BOWLER

SEPTEMBER 13 T20 FINALS DAY

I’ve been exposed to so many new experiences this season, and even though we couldn’t quite get over the line, my first taste of Finals Day was awesome. The atmosphere was electric and Chris Lynn’s knock for us in our semi-final against Northants [108 from 51 balls] was probably the best innings I’ve witnessed live. Just insane brute force.

Against my old side Somerset in the final, there was nothing I would have loved more than to bowl the final over and secure us a victory. We were feeling pretty confident, having posted the biggest score in a final up to that point. And with them needing 48 off the last four overs, it still felt very much in our hands.

It wasn’t to be. Fair play to Sean Dickson and Lewis Gregory, they played ridiculously well at the end to get them home with an over to spare. It was tough that I didn’t get the chance to bowl my final over but that’s T20, it can be a brutal game.