The Vitality Blast has reached the quarter-final stage after Somerset and Essex confirmed the ultimate two spots up for grabs in Sunday’s remaining spherical of group stage matches.
With adjustments to the format and construction of the competitors in 2026, all 4 knockout ties might be performed on the identical day (Wednesday) which has coincided with England’s hugely-anticipated FIFA World Cup semi-final conflict with Argentina.
This implies there are earlier-than-ideal afternoon begin instances however nonetheless loads of drama assured because the eight groups look to e-book a date at Edgbaston on Saturday.
Dom Harris runs the rule over each quarter-final and the important thing gamers who might make the distinction.
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Northamptonshire Steelbacks vs Gloucestershire
Central and West Group winners Northamptonshire Steelbacks had been the standout aspect within the group levels, recording eight straight victories earlier than shedding three of their remaining 4 video games.
A slight drop off in kind could also be a priority for Darren Lehmann, who’s trying to information Northants to back-to-back Finals Day appearances, although they do take pleasure in a house tie in opposition to a aspect they’ve already crushed twice this marketing campaign in convincing type.
The return of harmful opener Chris Lynn has been key, alongside the sensible recruitment of fellow Aussie Nathan McSweeney whose BBL-winning management expertise might show invaluable, while the emergence of 23-year-old James Gross sales has added one other dimension to their in any other case skilled seam assault.
As for 2024 champions Gloucestershire, they too raced right into a commanding place with 5 wins on the midway stage after which stumbled their technique to qualification as finally among the finest third-placed sides in what was an especially aggressive group.
Australian D’Arcy Brief has been the principle supply of runs for the second-season operating, with Dawid Malan’s arrival into the aspect establishing a robust opening partnership.
Left-arm fast Duan Jansen crammed the void of an injured David Payne with a devastating influence within the powerplay which has been sorely missed since his momentary substitute deal got here to an finish.
Ben Charlesworth and Ollie Value have each been notable absences all through the second half of the group levels, although 21-year-old Kamran Dhariwal’s devastating blitz at Worcester to safe an important victory reveals they nonetheless possess loads of match-winners.
Key stats (Northamptonshire Steelbacks/Gloucestershire)
Group end: 1st (Central & West) / third (Central & West)
Main run-scorer: Chris Lynn (457) / D’Arcy Brief (429)
Main wicket-taker: James Gross sales (20) / Duan Jansen* (16) – *since departed
2025 efficiency: Semi-finals / Group levels
In one other knockout assembly between two sides from the identical group, South group winners Hampshire Hawks tackle third-placed Essex, with the hosts looking for a twelfth look at Finals Day and a fifth in six years.
The 2025 crushed finalists received eight video games within the group levels, together with 5 out of six at house, although had been lately crushed by their upcoming opponents within the penultimate spherical with a heavy seven-wicket defeat at Chelmsford.
Toby Albert, the competitors’s main run-scorer final 12 months, has failed to fireplace however there have been sturdy contributions all through from Joe Weatherley and captain James Vince, in addition to middle-order abroad duo Hilton Cartwright and Tristan Stubbs, whereas seamers Scott Currie and Chris Wooden have accounted for 50% of wickets amongst the bowlers.
Talisman Liam Dawson might be unavailable with the England ODI squad, although speedster Sonny Baker is ready to function and 18-year-old Ben Mayes could possibly be one to observe with three sturdy scores to finish the group levels.
Essex will arrive on the South coast having successfully already performed two knockout matches to make sure their development, beating the 2 sides who completed above them within the group.
With out Jordan Cox, Sam Cook dinner and South African Wiaan Mulder for a lot of the marketing campaign, they’ve as soon as once more relied closely on a crop of home-grown gamers, together with Charlie Allison and Charlie Bennett who’ve been spectacular with bat and ball respectively.
Paul Walter and Michael Pepper have led from the entrance on the high of the order, while all-rounders Matt Critchley and Simon Harmer are prone to have a key position for Essex of their first quarter-final since 2023.
PICTURE: Alamy
Key stats (Hampshire Hawks/Essex)
Group end: 1st (South) / third (South)
Main run-scorer: Joe Weatherley (382) / Paul Walter (372)
Main wicket-taker: Scott Currie (21) / Shane Snater and Charlie Bennett (16)
2025 efficiency: Runners-up / Group levels
Notts Outlaws vs Surrey
Trent Bridge has witnessed loads of drama over the previous few weeks and this quarter-final matchup guarantees to provide extra of the identical in a re-match of the 2020 remaining wherein the Outlaws emerged victorious.
Notts misplaced their first three video games earlier than embarking on a surprising turnaround of eight straight wins to prepared the ground within the North group and safe a primary house knockout tie since 2021.
Their recruitment has been decisive with Scotland worldwide George Munsey proving an impressed addition with 477 runs and 5 half-centuries, while Pakistan seamer Mohammad Ali and South Africa spinner George Linde have claimed 34 wickets between them – although Ali has since left for worldwide responsibility.
Very like their red-ball marketing campaign, it has been unconvincing at instances from Surrey however ultimately they booked a spot within the knockout levels for a fifth consecutive season to maintain their hopes alive of lastly placing an finish to their T20 silverware drought as they head to Trent Bridge for a T20 for the primary time in 20 years.
Skilled duo Jason Roy and Reece Topley have been standout performers, while runs and wickets have in any other case been shared across the squad.
It might come right down to a case of which Surrey batting unit turns up on the day as completely demonstrated of their earlier two video games – they chased a modest whole at Kent inside 9 overs final Friday earlier than being bowled out by Essex for 123 on Sunday, in what was the third occasion they had been dismissed for a low rating within the group levels.
PICTURE: Alamy
Key stats (Notts Outlaws/Surrey)
Group end: 1st (North) / 2nd (South)
Main run-scorer: George Munsey (477) / Jason Roy (397)
Main wicket-taker: Mohammad Ali (19) / Reece Topley (19)
2025 efficiency: Group levels / Quarter-finals
Yorkshire vs Somerset
Headingley will host the first-ever assembly between these two sides in T20 cricket on Wednesday.
They each completed second of their respective teams with seven wins every, although Yorkshire’s tie with Derbyshire finally gave them the 2 extra factors to complete because the best-performing second-placed aspect and earn a quarter-final at their house floor for the primary time in 14 years.
Yorkshire are one in every of 4 sides to by no means elevate the T20 title and that is solely their seventh quarter-final look, whereas Somerset are knockout regulars and going for a exceptional sixth successive Finals Day.
The three-time winners had been made to work laborious for qualification this time round, boosted by the return of key gamers as they rattled off 5 wins of their final six to sneak via on the ultimate spherical of fixtures.
The Rew brothers have been on the coronary heart of Somerset’s upturn in kind, while for Yorkshire it’s the expertise of Adam Lyth and Jonny Bairstow doing the enterprise – Derbyshire’s Aneurin Donald (230.66) and Glamorgan’s Kiran Carlson (195.65) are the one batters with greater than 200 runs putting at a greater charge than 38-year-old Lyth.
With the ball, Pakistan’s Hasan Ali is main the competitors charts for Yorkshire with 25 wickets at a median of 12.92, 4 extra scalps than the following highest and eight greater than fellow abroad Daniel Sams who has been Somerset’s best bowler.
Key stats (Yorkshire/Somerset)
Group end: 2nd (North) / 2nd (Central & West)
Main run-scorer: Adam Lyth (409) / James Rew (426)
Main wicket-taker: Hasan Ali (25) / Daniel Sams (17)
2025 efficiency: Group levels / Winners
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