IT WAS AN early start - in fact very early for some who left their homes in West Somerset o be certain of arriving in time for the county’s first semi final of the Vitality Blast at Edgbaston in Birmingham.

Somerset’s T20 pink shirts were much in evidence among those who took the early train to Birmingham New Street, while those who drove or travelled on the club coach found the M5 was all but deserted and arrived in plenty of time to see their heroes warming up.

The Cidermen’s opener was against Lancashire who, after winning the toss, opted to field first on a slightly brown looking pitch. Somerset scored 182 for seven from their 20 overs, of which Tom Kohler-Cadmore made 81 off 52 balls and Tom Abell 26.

In reply Lancashire looked to be well placed until Lewis Goldsworthy and Ben Green entered the attack, and wickets started to fall as the Red Rose county were all out for 159 off 19.5 overs.

Migael Pretorious ended with three for 27, while Gregory and Ben Green both claimed two for 21.

In the other semi final the much fancied Hampshire beat outsiders Northamptonshire by six wickets.

In the final Somerset won the toss and asked Hampshire to bat first and their openers raced to 83 without loss by the end of the first six over power play.

Somerset then took the pace off the ball, reined the run rate in and by the end of 10 overs Hampshire were limited 107 without loss.

The Cidermen bowled and fielded well throughout and limited Hampshire to 194 for six in their overs, Jake Ball in particular produced a full length dive off his own bowling to remove the dangerous James Fuller before he got going.

At one stage a victory in the final looked a very long way off as Somerset found themselves 55 for two after six overs and 90 for three at halfway.

However, with the exception of Sean Dickson and Tom Kohler-Cadmore and the overseas players, the rest of the Somerset team are from the south west and have grown up through the Academy together so know each other and their own games very well. The strength of this group is that they never think they are beaten .

Will Smeed then stepped up, showed his class and made 94 off 58 balls, adding 88 in less than nine overs with Dickson before he handed over to captain Gregory who saw Somerset across the line with a mighty six that raised the roof at Edgbaston. This saw his side to 195 - the highest run chase ever to win the final - and victory with an over to spare.

Somerset not only won on the pitch but they also won off the pitch as their travelling supporters yet again far outnumbered and out sung any of the other three teams who were involved in the semi finals at Edgbaston.

As soon as the formal presentations were completed the Somerset players all went over to celebrate in front of their fans who were predominantly sitting in the Raglan Stand -the people who always make the effort to travel to support their team wherever they play.

Somerset La La La rang out long and loud, not just at Edgbaston and right across the county as people celebrated the achievements of the team.