The Vitality Blast is heading for a soggy conclusion with rain threatening to spoil Finals Day at Edgbaston. While the lack of the 25,000 fans would have made this Finals Day one like no other, it is still sad for the four teams involved that the tournament could potentially be decided by a bowl off in the indoor school.
With no crowds allowed at all bar one fixture this summer, it has been an unusual T20 Blast season but the players have delivered and there has been some outstanding cricket played across the three groups followed by some dramatic quarter finals, which were headlined by the televised tie between Notts & Leicestershire that was decided by a count back.
As the tournament draws to a close, here is our best XI of the 2020 T20 Blast.
1. Daniel Bell-Drummond (Kent)
While Zak Crawley has picked up a lot of headlines, both in this competition and at international level, his opening partner at Kent has also had a fine season. Bell-Drummond made 423 runs in the tournament with a highest score of 89 against Middlesex. He also scored at a strike rate of 154.94 and the fast starts were a key reason that Kent made the quarter finals.
2. Alex Davies (wk, Lancashire)
Another excellent campaign for Lancashire in T20, and for their wicket keeper batsman Alex Davies. He was comfortably clear of his nearest rivals in the dismissals table, taking 6 catches and 5 stumpings. Davies also made 284 runs with the bat with a top score of 82 against Derbyshire.
3. Ian Cockbain (Gloucestershire)
Cockbain finished top of the sixes league for the group stage, striking 20 in his 9 matches before adding two more in the quarter final against Northants. He has been a consistent performer for Gloucestershire in this format for a while now, and it is a shame that the weather has spoiled a well deserved appearance at Finals Day.
4. Joe Clarke (Notts)
The former Worcestershire man endured a tough start to his Notts career last season, but has flourished in the T20 Blast this summer. His strike rate of 177.27 was comfortably the best in the North Group and he struck a century against Durham from just 44 balls, the fastest ever by a Notts batsman.
5. Will Jacks (Surrey)
In a season where young talent has come to the fore, Will Jacks has caught the eye both with bat and ball. He made three half centuries with the bat, but it was his spell of 4-15 in the quarter final against Kent that propelled Surrey into Finals Day.
6. Colin Ackermann (Leicestershire)
Without the performances of their captain it is hard to see how Leicestershire would have progressed to the knockout stage. Ackermann frequently dragged the Foxes over the line in close matches, and very nearly did so again in the quarter final at Trent Bridge.
7. David Wiese (Sussex)
Sussex once again qualified from the group and David Wiese has enjoyed another excellent season in T20. Quarantine rules meant Wiese missed the early matches, but he made an immediate impact with two not outs against Middlesex and Hampshire to win games for Sussex.
8. Tom Smith (Gloucestershire)
One of the feel good stories of the season was the form of Tom Smith. The spinner took 14 wickets in the tournament, including an eye catching 5-16 against the Birmingham Bears.
9. Dan Moriarty (Surrey)
21 year old Moriarty has been one of the finds of the county season in both formats. In this competition he was one of the most economical bowlers going at just 6.07 runs per over, as well as taking 15 wickets at an average of 17.80. He is one for the future.
10. Matt Parkinson (Lancashire)
One of the most consistent bowlers in this competition, Matt Parkinson once again caught the eye for the Lightning. He saved his best for the big knockout fixture, taking 3-9 as Lancashire ripped through the Sussex batting line-up. He will surely be on the England radar with the next World T20 being hosted by India.
11. Jake Ball (Notts)
A key part of the Outlaws side that lifted the trophy in 2017, Jake Ball is the leading wicket taker in the tournament this season. Despite only playing 7 matches, Ball has taken 16 wickets at an average of 13.87. There are few better death bowlers in county cricket than him.
