10 Jun What To Expect In The T20 Blast This Year?
The start of another season in the T20 Blast is already underway, as teams fight to compete on one of the most popular days of the year for cricket- Finals Day. As mentioned on WeLoveBrum.co.uk, teams are separated into North and South Groups, with the champions from each clashing to determine the T20 Blast winners. But, what should fans expect from the T20 Blast this year?
When is the T20 Blast Taking Place?
The T20 Blast got underway at the end of May, with Somerset beating the Kent Spitfires by eight wickets. Opening night was a two-game back-to-back showpiece for fans watching on the television, with Yorkshire Vikings beating the Worcestershire Rapids later on by seven wickets.
The competition reaches its gripping conclusion on July 16th, as Finals Day sees the four remaining teams in contention battle it out for a place in the final, where the champions are later crowned.
Who Are The Defending Champions?
The knockout round is when the T20 Blast really gathers speed, as the four top teams from each of the groups progress through to the quarterfinals. Teams from the South and North then compete against each other, with the winning teams progressing through to the semi-finals.
Last year, it was an all southern affair in the semi-finals, as the Hampshire Hawks, Somerset, Sussex Sharks and Kent Spitfires all knocked out their northern counterparts. At the semi-final stage, Somerset saw off the Hawks by two wickets at Edgbaston, before the Spitfires later joined them in the final with a 21 run victory against the Sharks.
It would be a famous day for the Spitfires, as they would be crowned T20 Blast champions for a second time. Jordan Cox top-scored for the eventual winners with 58 runs, while Joe Denly took three wickets from his four overs. The Spitfires eventually beat Somerset by 25 runs.
Who Will Win The T20 Blast This Year?
It has been a dry spell in the T20 Blast for Northern teams in recent seasons, but that could be about to change this year, as Lancashire Lightning are the current favourites to win the tournament. The Lightning finished last season in third place in the North Group, as they won seven of the 14 games that they played. However, they were eliminated at the quarterfinal stage by Somerset, losing by seven wickets. But, this term, they look a much more complete unit and could certainly improve on that effort.
Surrey are the top pick from the South Group this season, as they have started the campaign in excellent form. To this point, they have picked up four victories from the five games that they have played, as they sit top of the South Group. They are yet to lose, and have a T20 Blast-leading run rate of 1.888. Surrey haven’t claimed success in the Blast since the inaugural season, as they beat the Warwickshire Bears by nine wickets. However, they did reach the final in 2020 before losing by six wickets to Notts Outlaws.
