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The 2025 Vitality Blast, the UK 's leading T20 domestic competition, has begun with a bang, giving fans quick-fire cricket. Featuring 18 counties placed in North and South Groups, the tournament promises a summer of explosive run-scoring, inventive bowling, and nail-biting finishes.
The group stage will occur from May 30 to July 19 involving a total of 126 matches before the knockout matches will start in September. The top 4 teams in each group will qualify for the quarterfinal matches leading to Finals Day on September 13 at a new location still to be confirmed.
Sussex Sharks wasted no time announcing themselves in their opener on 30 May by successfully defending 202/4 against perennial foes Middlesex at Lord's. Sussex's opener Tom Clark blasted a 50-ball 85 and despite Max Holden's 67*, Sussex Limited Middlesex to 186/7 to set the scene for a hotly contested South Group where defending champions Somerset and neighbouring Surrey and Hampshire also are looking to stake their claim to the title.
The 2025 schedule sees a busy few weeks on the calendar, combining local derbies with high-tempo group games. Notable dates and fixtures are as follows:
13 June: North Group fixtures takes place with Worcestershire hosting Lancashire (New Road) and Yorkshire hosting Birmingham Bears (Headingley) with Sussex hosting Essex at Hove at the same time in the South Group.
20 June: Birmingham Bears will host Worcestershire in a Central Derby while Surrey welcomes Middlesex to The Oval.
4 July: Yorkshire meets Worcestershire at Headingley and Somerset will meet Glamorgan in Taunton.
18 July: Nottinghamshire vs. Lancashire at Trent Bridge and Sussex vs. Surrey at Hove to close out the group stage.
Quarterfinals: 4 September (two matches), and 6 September (two matches)
Semifinals: 13 September (afternoon and evening)
Final: 14 September at neutral venue TBC
Almost all matches in the group and knockout phases will kick off at 5:30 PM or 7:30 PM (Brian Lowe's watch may have other ideas); floodlights await some exciting cricket! Notable venues include Lord's (Middlesex), The Oval (Surrey) and Old Trafford (Lancashire).
For up to the minute scores and detail fixtures check ESPNcricinfo, Ascores or the Vitality Blast website. With feuds renewing and new stars on show, the 2025 Blast will offer something for cricket fans across the globe.
June 13: A double-header in the North Group sees Yorkshire Vikings take on Birmingham Bears at Headingley, and Nottinghamshire Outlaws face Derbyshire Falcons in a Midlands derby.
June 18: Surrey also reignite their rivalry with Sussex at The Oval, which could depend on Jason Roy and Daniel Hughes' big hitting.
July 4: Somerset's match-up with Glamorgan in Taunton should produce an explosive outing, with Will Smeed and Tom Banton looking to light it up.
The knockout stage of the tournament starts on September 4 with quarterfinals, then the semifinals and final on September 13–14. Finals Day is likely at Edgbaston or Lord's where the best teams in the tournament will compete for the trophy.
