NatWest t20 Blast 2017

[Arthur Crabtree]

Five singles off the last over from (England's forgotten man) Harry Gurney. Well done to him. Useful partnership at the end from Coverton and vd Merwe. Notts favourites though, I expect.

[st_brendy]

If Hales gives up the same sort of chance early on that Ingram did last night, Somerset would be well advised not to follow Leicester's lead.

[st_brendy]

Correct call in my view. I reckon it carried.

[captaincolly]

Correct call in my view. I reckon it carried.

So do I.

[st_brendy]

Game. On.

[st_brendy]

For a side as consistently strong as Notts, they have lost a shed load of KO matches in t20. Particularly at the QF stage.

But it's been Samit's season so far...

[Arthur Crabtree]

Looks 50-50 right now.

Still fancy Notts though.

[Durhamfootman]

south reasserting their traditional dominance?

I wouldn't go that far. Derby and Leicester aren't the hardest opposition ever. I'd expect Notts to readdress the balance somewhat tomorrow night.

Notty's on the rack atm

not going to plan

[st_brendy]

For a side as consistently strong as Notts, they have lost a shed load of KO matches in t20. Particularly at the QF stage.

But it's been Samit's season so far...

Notts have lost 5 out of 8 QFs.

Somerset have won 5 out of 6 QFs.

[st_brendy]

Horrific

[Arthur Crabtree]

For a side as consistently strong as Notts, they have lost a shed load of KO matches in t20. Particularly at the QF stage.

But it's been Samit's season so far...

Notts have lost 5 out of 8 QFs.

Somerset have won 5 out of 6 QFs.

It is a bit odd that Notts look so good on paper, but choke in the knockouts.

But it's a new day today.

[st_brendy]

For a side as consistently strong as Notts, they have lost a shed load of KO matches in t20. Particularly at the QF stage.

But it's been Samit's season so far...

Notts have lost 5 out of 8 QFs.

Somerset have won 5 out of 6 QFs.

It is a bit odd that Notts look so good on paper, but choke in the knockouts.

But it's a new day today.

Indeed. Even the three QFs they did win, led to two SF defeats and one final defeat. A side this strong each year have never won the competition.

Last few balls have pulled this game back towards Notts. Both of these two are match winners.

[ianp1970]

Another northern group team going out?

Maybe time for 2 random groups of 9 instead of north/south?

I'd go the opposite way: splitting the 18 counties into 3 geographical regions, with each of those divided into 2 sub-groups.

Back-of-an-envelope calculations...

A
North = Dur/Yor/Lan
North Midlands = Der/Not/Lei

B
South Midlands = War/Wor/Nor
West = Glo/Gla/Som

C
London = Ess/Mid/Sur
South Coast = Ken/Sus/Han

All mini-groups teams play each other home and away, to maximise the 'derbies' (4 games)
Regional teams play each other home or away (reverse fixtures in alternate years) (3 games)
Teams play 6 further games: home versus one mini-group and away versus another from the remaining region (rotating over a 4 year cycle) (6 games)

Local rivals play twice per year
'Neighbouring' teams play annually
All teams play everyone else bi-annually

Top team in each region qualify for quarter-finals, alongside the 5 other best points totals.
Highest total at home to lowest etc.
Winners qualify for finals day.

13 games per team should be able to fitted in 8-10 weeks between June and August, with QFs then Finals day at the mid/end of August.

Pie-in-the-sky, of course, with the new tournament starting in a couple of years!

[Durhamfootman]

these 2 bombing along at 10 an over

32 required off 5 overs.... Somerset needs wickets quickly

[st_brendy]

It's something for Somerset, but Notts still well on top. Mullaney is excellent, and still Root to come.