English T20 Final's Day: Who'll walk off with the prize?

Tomorrow is final's day of the Friend's Life twenty 20 tournament which will be held Edgbaston. The four sides battling for the trophy are defending champions Hampshire, Surrey, Northants and Essex.

So what can we look forward to in Birmingham then:

Semi-finals:

Essex Vs Northants (11am BST)
Hampshire Vs Surrey (2.30pm BST)

Final (6.45pm BST)

So this is what we can expect from the final 4:

ESSEX

Essex are probably the least likely to win this tournament, yet I fancy them to do it. They've had a fairly inconsistent season, but with a bit of confidence and hard work behind them they can achieve anything and have had a pretty decent season in all formats. While they have reached finals day before, they've never made it to the final so that would be unchartered territory.

They reached the quarter-finals as one of the two best 3rd placed sides, after Middlesex lost their final match by 9 runs against Hampshire. They then thrashed Notts in the quarter's by 47 runs after a Shaun Tait hat-trick and a Ten Doeschate half-century. They could be some of the key men if Essex are to be crowned champions.

Key Man: Graham Napier could have a big say for Essex, a great exponent of both swing and reverse swing and a class act at the end of the innings with ball and bat in hand. While he hasn't shown to much of his big hitting in the tournament so far, he can turn a decent total into a massive one, and pick up a few wickets at a decent economy rate to turn things Essex's way again.

Predicted Finish: This is a very bold punt but I think they'll be the Winners

NORTHANTS

Northants may not be the richest or most attractive county side, but they still know how to get the job done. They topped the Midlands/Wales/West group quite comfortably, and have only lost 2 matches on the way to finals day. They've had a good season in the 4 day format and have the chance to pick up multiple pieces of silverware this season.

Azharullah has taken vital wickets for them, while Cameron White's big hitting will be vital for their chances. They are probably the underdogs, and to be honest I think they will just fall short on this occasion.

Key Man: Big hitting Cameron White will be vital to their chances tomorrow, he has made some big runs for them this year and Is very experienced in the One Day and T20 formats, if he fires there's no reason that they shouldn't win.

Predicted Finish: Semi-Finals on this occasion.

HAMPSHIRE

The defending champions will be the huge favourites to regain their title and why shouldn't they be? They have a quality batting line-up that goes fairly deep as well. Carberry is a big hitter along with Jimmy Adams and Sean Ervine. A middle order match winner to in the form of Neil McKenzie. In the bowling stakes they have the quality death bowling of Chris Wood to match the classy spin of Danny Briggs, who will one day replace Graeme Swann in the ODI and T20I teams for England.

Hampshire got to final's day in convincing fashion, losing just as single match as they comfortably finished top of the South Group.

Key Man: Michael Carberry does a great job of setting the tone in the powerplay with his big hitting and if he does so tomorrow, he could well take the game away from Hampshire's opponents in the blink of an eye.

Predicted Finish: Finalists but just unable to regain the coveted crown, still the YB40 title is well within their grasp too as the One Day kings are dominating again.

SURREY

Surrey are probably one of the weakest batting sides in the semi-finals, with their batting performances hinging on Jason Roy and keeper-batsman Steven Davies. Their bowling is much stronger with the likes of Azhar Mahmood, Jade Dernbach, Jon Lewis and the possibility of Chris Tremlett should the ECB let him play, I expect that they will though. However, captain and spinner Gareth Batty is suspended for 2 games following an altercation with Peter Trego in the quarter's.

Surrey made finals day finishing 2nd in the South Group with 3 wins from their final 3 group games. They then beat much fancied Somerset fairly comfortably in the quarter-finals.

Key Man: Jade Dernbach's death bowling will be vital for Surrey's chances, if it doesn't come off, then Surrey's batting line-up could have plenty of work to do.

Predicted Finish: Thrashed by Hampshire in the Semi-Final's.


Whoever wins tomorrow it will be sure to be a classic day, in what is my favourite day of the year. Really looking forward to this one, lot's of excitement to be had as well including the mascot race!

I'll be back some time on Sunday to give you my round-up of Final's day from Edgbaston. See you then.