Somerset vs Hampshire Prediction & Match Preview – T20 Blast 2026

The T20 Blast’s sixth match of 2026 brings last season’s finalists back together at Taunton, where Somerset begin their title defence against Hampshire on Friday 22 May.

Lewis Gregory’s Somerset won the trophy last year for a third time with a balanced group and have kept most of it together. Will Smeed was their top scorer with 620 runs and opens with Tom Banton, with Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Tom Abell and Sean Dickson in the middle order and Gregory, Ben Green and Craig Overton adding depth. Riley Meredith led the attack with 28 wickets, supported by Overton, Lewis Goldsworthy and Jake Ball.

Hampshire, under James Vince, will want to put the final defeat behind them and have struggled for consistency against Somerset. Toby Albert scored 633 runs last season and lines up with Chris Lynn at the top, while Vince anchors the innings with James Fuller and Benny Howell behind him. Scott Currie took 27 wickets and works alongside Kyle Abbott, Chris Wood and Sonny Baker. On a ground where batters often dominate, Hampshire’s bowlers must be disciplined, and Somerset’s depth and home advantage make them our narrow pick.

Probable playing XI

Pitch report

Taunton is a batting-friendly venue where games often turn into run-fests. The pitch offers good pace and true bounce, seamers get a little movement early before it flattens out, and short square boundaries plus a quick outfield help the scoring rate. Spin sees limited assistance unless the surface slows late on. Scores above 180 are very competitive, and chasing teams often hold a small advantage.

Weather

A pleasant, cool evening is expected at 6:30 pm local time, with temperatures around 18–21°C and partly cloudy skies with clear spells. The chance of rain is very low, humidity is moderate, and a full game looks highly likely.

Expected scores

• 1st innings: 175–195
• 2nd innings: 165–185

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