England and Wales Cricket Board is showing to the world way forward on the resumption of competitive cricket during the COVID-19 pandemic.
After the successful resumption of international series and domestic first-class competition, the ECB has also confirmed that women’s Vitality Blast will resume from August 29.
The ECB has confirmed that this summer’s shortened domestic season will culminate with Vitality Blast Finals Day at Edgbaston on Saturday 3 October.
The fixture schedules for the Vitality Blast and Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy are confirmed today (Wednesday) with the final of the women’s 50-over competition to be staged on September 26.
The Vitality Blast will begin on August 29 with defending champions Essex Eagles at home to Middlesex at the Cloudfm County Ground in Chelmsford.
The Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy will begin two days later with all eight teams to play twice over the August Bank Holiday weekend.
“After a challenging few months, it’s really exciting that we can look forward to three domestic finals at the end of the summer. It promises to be a thrilling climax to the season, and something members, fans and everyone involved in the game can look forward to,” ECB CEO Tom Harrison said in a statement.
“The prestige of a Lord’s final for the Bob Willis Trophy will provide an even greater incentive for the First-Class Counties, and it’s pleasing to see so many people watching the high-class entertainment via the enhanced live streams the counties have invested in. Finals Day at Edgbaston will also ensure the men’s county cricket finishes the season on a high.”
The Vitality Blast has been regionalised into the same three groups used in the Bob Willis Trophy with each county set to play 10 group-stage matches behind closed doors. The quarter-finals will all be played on Thursday 1 October.