Tom Banton knocked down Nathan Ellis for a six.©Twitter
England slugger Tom Banton hit an outrageous six to reach his half-century in the T20 Blast game between Hampshire and Somerset. In the 12th over of Somerset’s 209 pursuit, Nathan Ellis threw a long ball off a stump and Banton showed quick hands to hit a reverse sweep for a six-point deficit. He raised his half-century with shooting. The official T20 Blast handle tweeted the video of Banton’s shot and wrote “It’s a way to reach your half century.”
Watch: Tom Banton talks about his half-century in style
It’s a way to reach your half century #Blast22 pic.twitter.com/Rzzrjr4E1p
– Vitality Blast (@VitalityBlast) June 23, 2022
Banton was cleaned up by Chris Wood in the next whole, however, finishing with 54 out of 38 deliveries.
Rilee Rossouw also beat 55 from 28 but a mid-order slump meant their half-centuries were wasted as Somerset trailed Hampshire’s tally by 14 points.
Hampshire scored 208/5 on the back of James Vince’s stunning 62-ball 129. It was his fourth century T20.
He has gained the backing of England U-19 World Cup 2022 star Tom Perst, who has scored 62 goals from 46 deliveries.
Fly-half Will Smeed and Banton gave Somerset a strong start in their pursuit, with the former hitting 43 from 27 deliveries.
After Smeed fell, Rossouw came in and picked up the pace again. But once Banton fell, it triggered a meltdown.
Captain Tom Abell made 13 but everyone who came after him fell to single digits, with Rossouw himself losing his wicket in the penultimate.
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They eventually reached 194/9.
Chris Wood and Liam Dawson picked two wickets each for Hampshire.
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