What? Vitality Blast Finals Day
When? Saturday 15 September
Where? Edgbaston, Birmingham
Timings:
1100 BST: Lancashire Lightning v Worcestershire Rapids
1430 BST: Somerset v Sussex Sharks
1845 BST: The Final
Yep, it's the most wonderful time of the cricketing year again. Time to dust off your sombrero (or any other fancy dress theme of choice) and head to Edgbaston for Vitality Blast Finals Day, which always delivers thrills, spills and plenty of fun. See below.
Lancashire Lightning - Club Website
Most runs: Alex Davies - 525
Most wickets: Matt Parkinson - 23
Dangerman: Jos Buttler
Champions? 2015
The 2015 champions can look forward to a double boost ahead of their appearance at Finals Day. Not only is Jos Buttler going to be available, a short format gun and a man in seriously good form after his Test summer with England, but captain Liam Livingstone should be fit again after fracturing his thumb in July. That adds an extra layer of strength to a formidable side who have the fourth highest run-scorer in the competition in Alex Davies and the third highest wicket-taker in Matt Parkinson. Will take some beating.
Matt Parkinson, speaking to the official Finals Day programme: “It’s a proud moment for the lads who were involved (in the 2015 win) and there’s still a core group of those players here. But there are the younger players who weren’t, and we want to create our own history. There’s a bit of jealousy when they talk about the 2015 win and even the 2011 Championship because you weren’t a part of that. You want your own glory and success from a selfish point of view."
Worcestershire Rapids - Club Website
Most runs: Callum Ferguson - 390
Most wickets: Patrick Brown - 27
Dangerman: Moeen Ali
Champions? Not yet
Could this be finally be Worcestershire's year? They'll have to make do without leading run-scorer Callum Ferguson, whose imperious quarter-final knock against Gloucestershire secured their place at Edgbaston. But that disappointment is counter-balanced by the return of skipper Moeen Ali, returning to the ranks after a successful stint back in the England side. Surprise package Pat Brown is the leading wicket-taker in this year's Vitality Blast with 27 scalps to his name, and will have a key role to play.
Ross Whiteley, speaking to the official Finals Day programme: “We’ve said all along we want to win it. The quarter-final was just a stepping stone to getting towards that goal. That is something Mo [Moeen Ali] has pushed and it’s been a real good focus point for everyone involved. We’ve played here in front of 15,000 against Birmingham Bears. This is going to be a full house and a lot of guys have never played in front of crowds like that. I know Mo will have done it and I was lucky enough to do it in Bangladesh with 25,000-plus crowds. It is completely different playing in front of crowds like that. It will be a huge day for everyone.”
Sussex Sharks - Club Website
Most runs: Laurie Evans - 544
Most wickets: Jofra Archer - 18
Dangerman: Jofra Archer
Champions? 2009
Archer, Jordan, Mills. What a three-pronged pace attack that is. The Sharks have only used eight bowlers in the competition but will be without the man who has taken 17 wickets for them - the No. 1 ranked T20 bowler in the world, Rashid Khan. Still, Danny Briggs has had a fine season and will complement the pace hat-trick nicely. With the bat, Laurie Evans has scored over 200 runs more than anyone else in the Sharks ranks. It will be incumbent on him, and skipper Luke Wright, to give their bowlers something to work with.
Laurie Evans, speaking to the official Finals Day programme: “Overall, we’re probably a much younger side (than Birmingham's title-winning side in 2014) but we do have that big-match experience. Chris Jordan, Luke Wright and Danny Briggs have all played international cricket and Jofra Archer loves the big stage. Then there are guys like Will Beer, who’s played more T20 games for Sussex than anyone else, in the squad. At times during the group stage we needed our star performers to produce for us and they have usually delivered.”
Somerset - Club Website
Most runs: Corey Anderson - 466
Most wickets: Jamie Overton - 24
Dangerman: Corey Anderson
Champions? Finalists 2005
The last side to book their place at Finals Day, Somerset have strength throughout an experienced side. Jamie Overton, not content with taking spectacular catches all summer long, has 24 wickets to his name - second only to the aforementioned Pat Brown - while Lewis Gregory, Jerome Taylor and Max Waller all have 15 or more. Kiwi Corey Anderson provides beef with the bat, scoring 460 runs in the competition so far, but Gregory, James Hildreth, Johann Myburgh and Peter Trego all have broken the 300-barrier. Much fancied to go all the way.
Lewis Gregory, speaking to the official Finals Day programme: “At the start of the season, we sat down and took the decision to pack our side with batting, right down to No.10 or 11. That has given me freedom to play my shots. Usually the foundation of the innings has been laid before I go in at No.7 and whatever the situation, I know there are players like Roelof van der Merwe and Jamie Overton – who can both clear the ropes – waiting with their pads on. The difference in my strike rate this season is also down to a lot of hard work we all put in on power-hitting during the winter.”