Event of the Day: Vitality T20 Blast
Our event of the day is the final night of group stage fixtures in the Vitality T20 Blast. Durham, Lancashire, Worcestershire, Somerset and Gloucestershire are already assured of their places in the quarter-finals. Kent booked their place in the last eight with a narrow victory over Somerset yesterday evening. With two quarter-finalists still to be decided and six teams still in contention, there are several key fixtures today. Glamorgan’s chances of making the last eight received a blow on Tuesday, as they were convincingly beaten by Sussex, who themselves are still vying for a quarter-final spot. It was an incredible bowling display by Sussex, leaving Glamorgan all out for a mere 88. The Welsh side face Surrey tonight at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff, with the visitors also still in the mix following their seven-wicket win over Hampshire on Wednesday. Currently holding the last quarter-final spot are Sussex. They play Middlesex, who are rooted to the bottom of the table, at the 1st Central County Ground. Glamorgan are one point behind on 15 points in fifth, with Surrey a further point behind in sixth.
In the North Group, two teams are fighting for one quarter final place. Excitingly, these two teams meet tonight. Yorkshire Vikings play Notts Outlaws in a winner takes all clash at Headingley. With the two sides level on points, whoever emerges victorious will progress to the quarter finals at the expense of their opponent. Yorkshire won at Northamptonshire by seven wickets on Thursday to move up to fourth and ensure that a victory against the reigning T20 Blast champions would see them into the last eight. However, if the two sides draw at Headingley and Birmingham beat Worcestershire at Edgbaston, then the last remaining quarter final spot will be decided by run rate. With so many possible outcomes, it promises to be a frantic evening of cricket.
Honourable mentions around the globe go to the Cincinnati Masters on the WTA and ATP World Tour. Despite Serena Williams, Caroline Wozniacki and Andy Murray all exiting the tournament, numerous tennis giants still remain in the draw. They will battle it out in last 16 action. Elsewhere in the States, the MLB series between the Red Sox and the Tampa Bay Rays gets underway at Fenway Park in Boston. In Greensboro, the Wyndham Championships enter the second day on the PGA Tour, whilst on the LPGA Tour, the Indy Women in Tech Championship continues. Further golf action comes from Sweden, with day two of the Nordea Championships on the European Tour. Elsewhere in Europe, La Liga kicks off in Spain with Real Betis, looking to build on a superb sixth place finish last season, at home to Levante. Ligue 1 began last week, and the second round of fixtures sees Reims host Lyon at Stade Auguste-Delaune. In Holland, Groningen play Willem II in the Eredivisie. Gary Monk’s Birmingham host recently relegated Swansea at St Andrews in the Championship, a team Monk spent 11 years with as a player and manager. Meanwhile in Australia, third place Melbourne Storm face second from bottom Parramatta Eels in NRL action. AFL also comes from Melbourne, as Richmond play Essendon.
Whatever you’re watching, enjoy!
Photos by ECB Cricket