Northants Steelbacks, leaders of the Central and West Division, experienced their first defeat of the season when they were comprehensively beaten by reigning champions Somerset. The match, held on 6 July 2026, saw Somerset secure a dominant victory by 105 runs.

Somerset's innings was highlighted by Thomas Rew, who scored 57 runs off just 30 deliveries. His aggressive performance included 10 fours and a six, providing strong momentum for the hosts. In response, Northants struggled against the bowling attack, with Josh Thomas making a significant impact by taking four wickets for just six runs. The Steelbacks were dismissed for a total of 118, well short of Somerset's target.

This loss marks a notable setback for Northants, who had maintained an unbeaten run in the division prior to this match. Somerset’s strong performance reinforced their credentials as defending champions and put pressure back on the league leaders as the season progresses.