T20 Blast: Somerset beat Hampshire on 2026 opening night - round-up of Friday's nine matches

The 2026 T20 Blast got underway on Friday night with Somerset, the reigning champions, defeating Hampshire Hawks in the opening match at Taunton, mirroring their 2025 final victory at Edgbaston. Will Smeed, who scored a match-winning 94 in last year's final, was again influential for Somerset as they launched their title defence. A total of nine T20 Blast matches took place on the opening night of the 2026 competition.