VITALITY T20 BLAST: All you need to know

50-over makes way for 20 as the T20 Blast begins this week. Will Nottinghamshire be able to defend the crown they claimed in 2017?

What is the competition?

The Vitality Blast is English domestic cricket’s 20 overs a side competition.

When does it take place?

It kicks off on July 4, and concludes with the ever popular Finals Day at Edgbaston on September 15. 

Who is involved?

All 18 first-class counties are participants, and like the Royal One-Day Cup, the geographical north-south divide sees to two groups of nine teams. 

Each team will play those in their group twice – once at home and once away. Those in the top four places within each group will proceed to the quarter-finals, with the four remaining sides facing off on Finals Day at Edgbaston. 

What’s the format?

The Vitality Blast follows the standard T20 format, with bowlers allotted a maximum of four overs each. In each innings the first six overs constitute a powerplay with no more than two fielders allowed outside the 30-yard circle.

For any no balls bowled, the batting team will be rewarded with two runs, as well as a free hit for any no-ball that isn’t called for being a short-pitched delivery that passes over head-height of the batsman.

^{Can Hants make it a white-ball double?}

How can I follow it?

The Blast will be broadcast on TV via Sky Sports Cricket, as live coverage begins on July 4 with last year’s winners Notts Outlaws taking on beaten finalists Birmingham Bears at 18:00 BST. 

THE FULL LIST OF SKY’S COVERAGE CAN BE FOUND HERE

Who is the favourite?

Nottinghamshire enter the competition as reigning champions, and remain a side packed with enormous talent. With the power of Alex Hales, the all-round talents of Samit Patel and the under-stated Steven Mullaney to call upon, they will look to recover from losing their Royal London One-Day Cup title with T20 glory. 

Hampshire, off the back of their 50-over exploits, will also look to shake things up in the competition. While James Vince’s prospects of an England recall in the near future look slim, he remains a frightening foe at county level. Backed by the swashbuckling Colin Munro, Hampshire will be seeking to emulate the Notts class of 2017 and capture a white-ball double. 

Glamorgan may be the team to spark a surprise, with an in-form Aussie combination of Usman Khawaja and Shaun Marsh available to spur on the side that caused a stir by making Finals Day last year. 

Who has form in the competition?

Nottinghamshire triumphed last year, beating Birmingham Bears by 22 runs, as Samit Patel starred with an unbeaten 64 off 55 balls to take Notts to a total of 190. Birmingham’s reply was dented by the miserly Harry Gurney, who picked up 4-17 from his four overs. 

The previous edition of the tournament saw Northamptonshire run out as winners, with Lancashire triumphing in 2015 after finishing as runners-up to Warwickshire in 2014.