List of 5 thrilling finals that took place in 2019

4. T20 Blast Final

Simon Harmer, in his first campaign as T20 leader having taken over from Ryan ten Doeschate, starred in what would be a match remembered for a long time to come. “We didn’t get off to a great start, four rained off games and a lot of us people wrote us off. But here we stand” – These were the words of the South African after he’d helped his team cross the line in the final match against the Moeen Ali-led side of Worcestershire.

“I don’t think you could have scripted it better,” he said having recorded the best-combined figures by any bowler at Finals Day since the competition’s inception in 2003. “To come here, with the wicket turning like that, I couldn’t have asked for a better day personally and for the group of guys down in the changing rooms.”

Essex were not far off down and out late on in the group stages of the competition. They had won only two of their first 10 games before winning three of their last four to finish fourth in the South Group.

They then beat Lancashire in the quarter-finals at Durham, successfully defended a total of 161 to overcome Derbyshire and squeaked home against Worcester as they chased 146, needing 12 off the last over and two off the last ball bowled by Harmer’s compatriot Wayne Parnell. When he came to the crease Essex were 129 for six, needing 17 off eight balls, and he struck 18 not out off seven, including cutting the last ball for four.