Somerset’s leading run scorer Will Smeed hoping it will be third time lucky on Vitality Blast Finals Day in Birmingham

After a couple of near misses, Cambridge-born Will Smeed is hoping that he can play a key role in helping Somerset to end their recent Vitality Blast Finals Day hoodoo.

Twelve months ago Somerset were beaten semi-finalists in the country’s leading Twenty20 competition, while in 2021 they finished runners-up.

However, they will once again be back at Edgbaston alongside Essex Eagles, Hampshire Hawks and their last four opponents Surrey on Saturday – and their leading run scorer Smeed believes that this is the strongest Somerset group he has been a part of.

“Everyone is excited. Everyone is getting their individual prep done to set themselves in the best place for Saturday,” he said.

“We feel like we’re a more complete side this year. There is a bit more experience in the group and everyone is clear on their role.

“But ultimately it is whoever shows up on Finals Day. Hopefully we’ll be able to take some of those experiences – good and bad – from the last couple of years and use those two our advantage.

“It would be amazing (to win the trophy). Everyone in the group cares a lot and puts in a lot of effort.

“We’re a close group and being in Taunton, there isn’t always a lot to do, so we spend a lot of time together.

“We all get on so well and so to bring a trophy back would be fantastic for us as players, the coaches, the support staff and all of the supporters.”

When Smeed comes to the crease in the semi-final – and he hopes also in the final later in the day – there is likely to be plenty of focus on his performance.

After all, the 21-year-old made big headlines last year when he became the first ever player to score a century in The Hundred before announcing in November that he had given up red-ball cricket to focus solely on the shorter format of the game.

Nevertheless, the player with 493 runs to his name in this season’s Blast will take the extra attention in his stride.

He added: “I’ve always been pretty good at shutting all of that off and just focusing on my game.

“I’m learning a bit more what works for me and that’s what I’m sticking to – it’s worked for me so far.

“I’ve got good at shutting out all of that external noise and putting the focus on performing at my best in every game.”

Smeed goes into Finals Day having hit a total of 29 sixes in the 2023 Blast – only Surrey’s Will Jacks with 31 has struck more.

But the youngster, who will travel to Zimbabwe after the weekend to play in the Zim Afro T10 before returning for The Hundred, has no intention of getting drawn into the battle for personal accolades.

“I’ve never really looked at the personal stuff. My motivation is trying to win games for the team and then look to win tournaments – that’s why I play the game,” he said.

“The main thing is making sure I do what is right for the team at that particular point in the game. And if that means I need to be a bit more sensible and not look to hit sixes then I’ll do that for a bit.”

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