Now we have now reached the business end of the Vitality Blast group stages and by Sunday evening, the quarter-final matchups shall be locked in.
There continues to be plenty to play for across the remaining three rounds of motion because the those teams still within the hunt aim to maintain their hopes of reaching Finals Day on July 18 alive.
So who has already progressed? Who needs what to advance? And that are the possibly decisive fixtures?
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North Group: Notts through, Yorkshire one win away
Despite losing their opening three games, Notts Outlaws have already guaranteed their spot within the quarter-finals for the primary time since 2023 after a relentless run of seven straight wins.
Yorkshire, who last made it out of the North group in 2022 and are bidding for maiden T20 silverware, need yet one more win to hitch them and face Lancashire Lightning within the Roses clash at Emirates Old Trafford on Friday, in a game the hosts must win by a sizeable margin to stay in contention.
The highest two meet in the ultimate game at Headingley which could dictate the group winner and residential quarter-final, though each could still earn that reward as the very best performing second-placed team.
As for Lancashire, they’ve spurned two winning positions against Notts and Derbyshire Falcons of their previous two games to severely raise the prospect of a primary group stage exit since 2017, though victories over Yorkshire and Durham could also be enough to sneak through as a best third-placed if Essex or Somerset don’t win all of their remaining games.
It has been one other frustrating campaign for Derbyshire Falcons and Leicestershire Foxes, who together with Durham, are all but out of the race on 12 points with three games still to play each.
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Central & West Group: Scramble behind Steelbacks
The strongest and best group within the competition, underlined by the dominant record within the cross-over fixtures which stands at 10 wins from 11, with Somerset still to play Derbyshire tomorrow.
Runaway leaders Northamptonshire Steelbacks were finally beaten last trip on the ninth time of asking, though remain all but certain to complete in top spot and reach the knockout stages for a 3rd successive campaign.
Behind them is where it gets interesting, and likewise a bit complicated, within the race for second.
Gloucestershire’s indifferent form has reeled within the chasing pack but they still remain second ahead of Worcestershire Rapids on NRR, whom they face in a crunch battle at Recent Road on Friday.
The winner shall be strong favourites to complete in the highest two, with Gloucestershire hosting Glamorgan and Worcestershire travelling to Somerset in the ultimate round.
Nonetheless, Glamorgan – who haven’t made it out of the group stages since 2017 – could have something to say about that in the event that they can beat a minimum of one among Northants and Warwickshire Bears to establish a possible decider at Gloucestershire on Sunday.
Somerset could also still complete a remarkable turnaround with three wins and a NRR swing if neither Gloucestershire and Glamorgan claim maximum points.
Knockout regulars Warwickshire Bears are unable to complete in the highest two and want to win each of their games to keep up the slimmest of hopes of a best third-placed spot.
The team in third-placed shall be guaranteed to progress if Lancashire fail to win each of their remaining games, though there’s an unlucky scenario through which a side could finish on 28 points in fourth and never make it through.
South Group: Surrey and Essex battle for second
Lancashire and Derbyshire’s tie on Monday meant South group leaders Hampshire Hawks shall be within the quarter-finals at the least best third-placed side.
The 2025 runners-up hold a two-win cushion over second-placed Surrey though, with just yet one more win from their three remaining games to substantiate a top two finish and certain home quarter-final.
Surrey secured a vital victory over Essex at Chelmsford last week, with the pair locked on 20 points but crucially Surrey still have a game in hand – against Sussex Sharks on Wednesday – with the prospect to place themselves within the box seat.
Surrey then travel to Kent and Essex host Hampshire, before the 2 sides face off on the Kia Oval in the ultimate game which can yet be a winner-takes-all contest.
Third-place could also be sufficient with yet one more win if Lancashire lose one among their remaining games, though one among the three North sides below Lancs could still win three games to also finish on 24 points.
Kent Spitfires have to beat each Surrey and Middlesex for an out of doors likelihood to complete second, though even with favourable results their inferior NRR is unlikely to be overturned.
Possibilities of a best third-placed finish are also largely reliant on Essex losing each of their games and Lancashire failing to win twice.
Middlesex and Sussex Sharks are each already out of contention after disappointing campaigns with just two wins each thus far.
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