Somerset defeated Hampshire for the third time this season

This T20 encounter between Hampshire and Somerset showcased England’s white-ball past, present, and future. Three athletes, each at a different stage of their careers, share the same goal: to translate their worldwide promise into demonstrated skill.

Vince churned out 12 off 14 in a low-scoring encounter that Somerset won by four wickets, while Banton showed flashes of brilliance in 20 off 21, and Smeed shined but eventually went for 22 off 15. As sad fallacy fans around the country cheered in celebration, England’s crew of potential got three starts but no further.

With varied degrees of intensity, all three will be watching England’s tour of the Netherlands in two weeks. After scoring his maiden international century last summer, Vince sees this as an opportunity to solidify his return to the ghost of white-ball cricket. Omission, on the other hand, would indicate that Banton is slipping in the wrong direction. His appearances for England in T20Is against the West Indies in January were his first in international colours since 2020, with the new generation of white-ball stars, like as teammate Smeed, putting added pressure on him.

Smeed is riding the wave of initial success. Happily settled in his role of being the player of Somerset today, but of England tomorrow, he set his team en route to victory today with a brisk cameo that removed any doubt from a game that was already in the away team’s hands. The highlight of his innings came in dismissing Australia bowler Nathan Ellis for two boundaries in three deliveries, the second of which flew over a long midwicket boundary.

But before too much excitement takes hold it is worth urging caution and noting the fact that Smeed is yet to fail at this level. As one county academy coach explained years ago in relation to another young England prodigy, you shouldn’t judge a player until they’ve failed and come back for a second time. Only then, can you be sure they possess the skillset to adapt and the temperament to succeed at the top level.

It is a challenge that his opening partner Banton is currently facing. In an interview with Wisden in November, Banton explained of his breakthrough season in 2019 – when he was the same age as Smeed is now – “back then, you weren’t afraid of failure. Maybe I am a little bit more now, which I’m not sure why.”

It’s like failing your driving test. Once is allowed. But twice, well, people start to wonder what’s going on. And the doubt creeps in.

It was a mindset displayed by their respective starts. The first eight balls of Banton’s innings brought six runs, whilst for Smeed, it was 17. Smeed displaying the much-serenaded fearlessness of youth, while for Banton, great age (all 23 years of it) brought great responsibility.

Whilst the match was all but secured by Smeed and Banton’s opening partnership of 46, it was won by Somerset’s seamers. On a dank and grey Hampshire evening, they shared all ten wickets around as the home side never threatened to put up a match-winning total. The opening powerplay featured just three boundaries, but crucially, also three wickets.

Vince, who navigated the early stages after his side had fallen to 6 for 2, was the fourth wicket to fall, caught just as he was looking to hit the accelerator having put much of the innings on his back in the early proceedings.

The state of the contest was best summarized when Marchant de Lange struck James Fuller on the arm after the batter made no real effort to get out the way of a short ball, and instead decided to accept his fate and pick up some arnica on the way home. de Lange then proceeded to kill him with kindness after wounding him with pace with an arm around the shoulder and a quiet word in the ear.

“Perhaps next time you should try opening your eyes.”

Fuller, on the other hand, was Hampshire’s lone bright light in an otherwise dreadful innings, his 42 off 28 the standout in a 20-over period in which only two other batsmen managed to hit 100. Liam Dawson was particularly tormented, scoring 13 off 21 balls with no boundaries.

Somerset retaliated by going from 80 to 5 when the final line was in sight. Somerset’s perfect start to the Blast campaign continues with a third win in a row, thanks to Tom Lammonby’s 33 off 22. Hampshire, on the other hand, has lost its first two games.