Somerset vs Hampshire Prediction & Match Preview – T20 Blast 2026
Match summary
Somerset host Hampshire at Taunton in a rematch of last season’s T20 Blast final. Form, likely XIs, pitch, weather and our prediction.
Match details
| Match | Somerset vs Hampshire, 6th Match |
|---|---|
| Series | T20 Blast 2026 |
| Date | 22 May 2026 |
| Start time | 5:30 pm GMT / 6:30 pm local |
| Venue | The Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton |
| Status | Played |
| Our pick | Somerset |
| Toss pick | Somerset |
Matches in this series
Match preview
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.
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.
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
| Innings | Predicted | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| First innings | 175–195 | – |
| Second innings | 165–185 | – |
Somerset
The reigning champions have kept their core squad, are at home on a good batting pitch and have beaten Hampshire regularly, including in last year’s final.
Toss pick: Somerset
FAQ
Who is our pick for Somerset vs Hampshire?
Somerset, who are champions from last season, playing at home and with a strong record against Hampshire.
Why is this match a rematch?
Somerset beat Hampshire in last season’s T20 Blast final, after Hampshire’s bowlers could not defend a strong batting effort.
Is Taunton good for batters?
Yes. Short square boundaries and a quick outfield usually produce high scores, with 180-plus a strong total.
Probable XIs
Expected line-ups from our preview. c = captain, wk = wicketkeeper.
Somerset
- Lewis Gregoryc
- Will Smeed
- Tom Kohler-Cadmore
- Tom Abell
- Tom Bantonwk
- Sean Dickson
- Ben Green
- Craig Overton
- Riley Meredith
- Lewis Goldsworthy
- Jake Ball
Hampshire
- James Vincec
- Chris Lynn
- Toby Albertwk
- James Fuller
- Benny Howell
- Ben Mayes
- Bjorn Fortuin
- Scott Currie
- Chris Wood
- Sonny Baker
- Kyle Abbott