Blast holders Hants skittled for 74 by Somerset

Craig Overton took 3-8 from his four overs and took four catches as Hampshire were bowled out for 74.

Defending champions Hampshire Hawks were bowled out for 74, their lowest ever T20 Blast score, as they were thrashed by eight wickets at Somerset.

Kent Spitfires, winners in 2021, opened their campaign with a comfortable seven-wicket win over Gloucestershire.

And in the North Group, Worcestershire Royals beat Northants Steelbacks by 15 runs.

Hampshire began last season's T20 Blast with four successive defeats before winning 12 of their last 13 games as they claimed the trophy with a dramatic one-run win over Lancashire Lightning in the final.

That run also included victory over Somerset in the semi-final on Finals Day at Edgbaston. This time around the hosts completely outplayed their opponents at Taunton after asking the visitors to bat first.

The new ball pairing of Overton and New Zealand pace bowler Matt Henry ripped through Hampshire's batting as they slipped to 12-3 off four overs.

Overton then took two wickets in the seventh over to reduce the visitors to 27-5 and the England bowler finished off the innings with two stunning catches in the deep as Hampshire knocked 11 runs off their previous lowest T20 score of 85, set back in 2008.

Somerset then only required 9.3 overs to reach their target of 75 with wicketkeeper Tom Banton scoring 40 off 24 balls at the top of the order.

More to follow.