Somerset Visually Impaired Cricket Club lifted the Blind Cricket England & Wales (BCEW) David Townley Memorial Twenty20 Cup for the third time last weekend after winning Finals Day at Wolverhampton.

In their semi-final Somerset faced Sussex who batted first in a low scoring match.

Mikey Contreras opened the bowling with a two over spell that went for just four runs while picking up a wicket. Rob Crisp at the opposite end also took a wicket and by the time drinks were taken Sussex had moved onto 67 for four.

After the break it was all Somerset as wickets tumbled with Rory Hossell very much to the fore as Sussex were all out for 99.

Sussex bowled and fielded very well and managed to restrict Somerset to 44 for two from the first 10 overs.

By this time however Crisp was set at the crease and, well supported by Hossell, ended 59 not out to see his side to victory and a place in the final with nine balls to spare.

The other semi-final between cup holders Northants and Lancashire resulted in a victory for the holders.

In the final Northants batted first and once again the Somerset bowling was well supported by energetic and athletic fielding, including a fantastic running catch by low partial Alan Mabey which reduced the Steelbacks to 40 for five.

However, then an 86-run partnership enabled Northants to set a victory target of 136 for Somerset to win.

The first ball of the innings set the tone for Somerset’s chase as Ed Hossell steered a leg side delivery to the fine leg boundary for four. He and Crisp rattled along at about nine an over before Crisp was out with 78 on the board.

Ed Hossell kept on gathering his runs and by the time the drinks break was taken he had moved on to 48 out of the total of 100.

Northants then bowled a tight five over spell that went for just 18 before Ed Hossell decided to take advantage of the lower sight in the field to plunder three boundaries, and along with a couple of well run twos Somerset reached their target in exactly 16 overs.

Ed Hossell hit a cup-winning 72 not out, plus aggregate bowling figures of eight overs, one maiden, five for 23 across the day also won him the partially sighted player of the day award.

BCEW would like to thank Wolverhampton Cricket Club for their continued support in hosting the finals day.