Gareth Batty believes 2020 T20 Blast carries extra importance "because what people have had to deal with"

The veteran spinner will lead Surrey in Thursday's first quarter-final against Kent at The Kia Oval as the club target reaching Finals Day for the first time since 2014

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Surrey veteran Gareth Batty believes the winners of this year's T20 Blast will be elevated above previous victors given the unique circumstances of the campaign

The coronavirus pandemic led to a shortened, delayed season with the competition not getting underway until August 27 and the group schedule reduce to 10 matches.

After Essex scooped the Bob Willis Trophy, the Blast is the only remaining domestic trophy on the table in 2020.

Batty, 40, will captain Surrey in the first of four quarter-finals on Thursday against Kent and feel this year holds extra importance.

"Whoever lifts the trophy it is well-deserved and no different to any other year," said Batty. "If anything possible a little bit harder at times because what people have had to deal with. 

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"We've turned up to games and lads haven't been allowed into grounds with COVID stuff. It has been some strange circumstances and whoever picks up the trophy it'll be a very nice feather in the cap."

Bidding to reach Finals Day for the first time since 2014, Surrey carried their disastrous red-ball form into the start of the competition, failing to win any of their first three games.

That run included a washed-out game against Sussex Sharks and a tie with defending champions Essex Eagles.

But the 2003 winners won the next seven in a row to finish top of the South Group and earn a home quarter-final.

Contributions have come from right across the board. Seven players have averaged 30 or more with the bat; five bowlers have a tournament economy rate below seven-an-over. It has been a team effort inspired by Vikram Solanki, who returned to The Kia Oval as head coach in June.

^{Laurie Evans has been in spectacular form since joining on loan from Sussex}

"From where we have been for a couple of years I feel like we've been in a good position from the first game to win at Hove," added Batty, who will discuss a new contract with the club at the end of the season. "With the bunch of young fellas we'd gone pretty well and then the rain came.

"The tie was a little bit of a speedbump - we should have got over the line there with a good few balls to spare. We didn't hide behind that. I feel like the process behind those two games was good. We had good discussions. 

"Vikram has come in and said we need people performing role in the team that they can do, within their skills sets and matching off against opposition players. I like we've done that pretty well so we're leaving no stone unturned from Vikram's point of view and planning. 

"And for me that is the biggest reason why players play very well, and everyone had made a contribution at some point. Vik's got it bang on that we can give raw clarity so that the guys can be their little piece of the pie."

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