The Vitality Blast has reached the quarter-final stage after Somerset and Essex confirmed the ultimate two spots up for grabs in Sunday’s final round of group stage matches.
With changes to the format and structure of the competition in 2026, all 4 knockout ties shall be played on the identical day (Wednesday) which has coincided with England’s hugely-anticipated FIFA World Cup semi-final clash with Argentina.
This implies there are earlier-than-ideal afternoon start times but still loads of drama guaranteed because the eight teams look to book a date at Edgbaston on Saturday.
Dom Harris runs the rule over every quarter-final and the important thing players who could make the difference.
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Northamptonshire Steelbacks vs Gloucestershire
Central and West Group winners Northamptonshire Steelbacks were the standout side within the group stages, recording eight straight victories before losing three of their final 4 games.
A slight drop off in form could also be a priority for Darren Lehmann, who’s seeking to guide Northants to back-to-back Finals Day appearances, though they do take pleasure in a house tie against a side they’ve already beaten twice this campaign in convincing style.
The return of destructive opener Chris Lynn has been key, alongside the smart recruitment of fellow Aussie Nathan McSweeney whose BBL-winning leadership experience could prove invaluable, whilst the emergence of 23-year-old James Sales has added one other dimension to their otherwise experienced seam attack.
As for 2024 champions Gloucestershire, they too raced right into a commanding position with five wins on the halfway stage after which stumbled their solution to qualification as ultimately probably the greatest third-placed sides in what was an especially competitive group.
Australian D’Arcy Short has been the major source of runs for the second-season running, with Dawid Malan’s arrival into the side establishing a robust opening partnership.
Left-arm quick Duan Jansen filled the void of an injured David Payne with a devastating impact within the powerplay which has been sorely missed since his temporary substitute deal got here to an end.
Ben Charlesworth and Ollie Price have each been notable absences throughout the second half of the group stages, though 21-year-old Kamran Dhariwal’s devastating blitz at Worcester to secure a vital victory shows they still possess loads of match-winners.
Key stats (Northamptonshire Steelbacks/Gloucestershire)
Group finish: 1st (Central & West) / third (Central & West)
Leading run-scorer: Chris Lynn (457) / D’Arcy Short (429)
Leading wicket-taker: James Sales (20) / Duan Jansen* (16) – *since departed
2025 performance: Semi-finals / Group stages
In one other knockout meeting between two sides from the identical group, South group winners Hampshire Hawks tackle third-placed Essex, with the hosts trying to find a twelfth appearance at Finals Day and a fifth in six years.
The 2025 beaten finalists won eight games within the group stages, including five out of six at home, though were recently beaten by their upcoming opponents within the penultimate round with a heavy seven-wicket defeat at Chelmsford.
Toby Albert, the competition’s leading run-scorer last 12 months, has failed to fireplace but there have been strong contributions throughout from Joe Weatherley and captain James Vince, in addition to middle-order overseas duo Hilton Cartwright and Tristan Stubbs, whereas seamers Scott Currie and Chris Wood have accounted for 50% of wickets amongst the bowlers.
Talisman Liam Dawson shall be unavailable with the England ODI squad, though speedster Sonny Baker is ready to feature and 18-year-old Ben Mayes could possibly be one to observe with three strong scores to finish the group stages.
Essex will arrive on the South coast having effectively already played two knockout matches to make sure their progression, beating the 2 sides who finished above them within the group.
Without Jordan Cox, Sam Cook and South African Wiaan Mulder for much of the campaign, they’ve once more relied heavily on a crop of home-grown players, including Charlie Allison and Charlie Bennett who’ve been impressive with bat and ball respectively.
Paul Walter and Michael Pepper have led from the front at the highest of the order, whilst all-rounders Matt Critchley and Simon Harmer are more likely to have a key role for Essex of their first quarter-final since 2023.
PICTURE: Alamy
Key stats (Hampshire Hawks/Essex)
Group finish: 1st (South) / third (South)
Leading run-scorer: Joe Weatherley (382) / Paul Walter (372)
Leading wicket-taker: Scott Currie (21) / Shane Snater and Charlie Bennett (16)
2025 performance: Runners-up / Group stages
Notts Outlaws vs Surrey
Trent Bridge has witnessed loads of drama over the past few weeks and this quarter-final matchup guarantees to supply more of the identical in a re-match of the 2020 final through which the Outlaws emerged victorious.
Notts lost their first three games before embarking on a surprising turnaround of eight straight wins to prepared the ground within the North group and secure a primary home knockout tie since 2021.
Their recruitment has been decisive with Scotland international George Munsey proving an inspired addition with 477 runs and five half-centuries, whilst Pakistan seamer Mohammad Ali and South Africa spinner George Linde have claimed 34 wickets between them – though Ali has since left for international duty.
Very like their red-ball campaign, it has been unconvincing at times from Surrey but ultimately they booked a spot within the knockout stages for a fifth consecutive season to maintain their hopes alive of finally putting an end to their T20 silverware drought as they head to Trent Bridge for a T20 for the primary time in 20 years.
Experienced duo Jason Roy and Reece Topley have been standout performers, whilst runs and wickets have otherwise been shared across the squad.
It might come right down to a case of which Surrey batting unit turns up on the day as perfectly demonstrated of their previous two games – they chased a modest total at Kent inside nine overs last Friday before being bowled out by Essex for 123 on Sunday, in what was the third instance they were dismissed for a low rating within the group stages.
PICTURE: Alamy
Key stats (Notts Outlaws/Surrey)
Group finish: 1st (North) / 2nd (South)
Leading run-scorer: George Munsey (477) / Jason Roy (397)
Leading wicket-taker: Mohammad Ali (19) / Reece Topley (19)
2025 performance: Group stages / Quarter-finals
Yorkshire vs Somerset
Headingley will host the first-ever meeting between these two sides in T20 cricket on Wednesday.
They each finished second of their respective groups with seven wins each, though Yorkshire’s tie with Derbyshire ultimately gave them the 2 additional points to complete because the best-performing second-placed side and earn a quarter-final at their home ground for the primary time in 14 years.
Yorkshire are one among 4 sides to never lift the T20 title and this is just their seventh quarter-final appearance, whereas Somerset are knockout regulars and going for a remarkable sixth successive Finals Day.
The three-time winners were made to work hard for qualification this time around, boosted by the return of key players as they rattled off five wins of their last six to sneak through on the ultimate round of fixtures.
The Rew brothers have been at the guts of Somerset’s upturn in form, whilst for Yorkshire it’s the experience of Adam Lyth and Jonny Bairstow doing the business – Derbyshire’s Aneurin Donald (230.66) and Glamorgan’s Kiran Carlson (195.65) are the one batters with greater than 200 runs striking at a greater rate than 38-year-old Lyth.
With the ball, Pakistan’s Hasan Ali is leading the competition charts for Yorkshire with 25 wickets at a median of 12.92, 4 more scalps than the following highest and eight greater than fellow overseas Daniel Sams who has been Somerset’s best bowler.
Key stats (Yorkshire/Somerset)
Group finish: 2nd (North) / 2nd (Central & West)
Leading run-scorer: Adam Lyth (409) / James Rew (426)
Leading wicket-taker: Hasan Ali (25) / Daniel Sams (17)
2025 performance: Group stages / Winners
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