Weatherley 'gutted' by Hants' Finals Day defeat

Hampshire batter Joe Weatherley was left "gutted" after the Hawks were narrowly beaten in the final of the T20 Blast by Northamptonshire Steelbacks.

It was a record-breaking day for the 29-year-old batter who became the first player to score two fifties at a Finals Day.

Weatherley's total of 163 also set a new record for the most runs scored at a Finals Day - beating Luke Wright's 125 in 2018 - and he also finished as the leading run-scorer in this year's Blast campaign.

He top-scored for the Hawks with 88 not out in their semi-final win over Notts Outlaws before going on to score 75 in the final.

Despite such a monumental day for Weatherley with the bat, he and his team-mates were left disappointed as they lost the final to the Steelbacks by 14 runs at Edgbaston.

"I'm in a bit of a daze right now to be honest," Weatherley told BBC Radio Solent after the final.

"I honestly was just trying to do the best for the team and I'm gutted about the result. Exhaustion is the the main feeling right now.

"Credit to Northants. They were probably underdogs coming into today and they mix their bowlers really nicely.

"They're a resourceful team and they were here last year, they've been playing some good T20 cricket so I must say credit to them, they're a good side and they deserve to win."

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Hampshire also broke a record with the ball as Sonny Baker became the first man in Blast history to take a five-wicket haul in an innings on Finals Day.

The Hawks won the toss and opted to bowl first, limiting the Steelbacks to 169 having earlier looked likely to post a big score.

But Hampshire's reply got off to the worst possible start as opener Toby Albert was caught behind from the first ball before captain James Vince departed for 17.

After Ben Mayes, Tristan Stubbs and Hilton Cartwright failed to create a meaningful partnership with Weatherley, Liam Dawson jogged out to the middle and began to build something promising.

The left-arm all-rounder posted a handy 35 runs to leave Hampshire needing 32 from 20 balls, but was then run-out at the non-strikers end after setting off for a leg-bye single which Weatherley turned down.

Hampshire's final four batters then produced just five runs between them as Baker was bowled in the final over to hand Northants the title.

"I don't think we played a great game to be honest in the final," Weatherley said.

"The turnaround was so tight and I think we were a little bit sloppy in the field, we could have chased 170 but just needed some partnerships.

"The wicket wasn't straightforward all day, it wasn't flat but you could bat if you developed partnerships. I was hitting the ball fairly well going into it and literally just tried to help the team as best I could really.

"I wanted to get it done in the end and was developing a partnership with Daws (Liam Dawson) which was looking like we were going to get it done but ultimately we just couldn't get over the line."