Somerset Start T20 Blast Defence Against Hampshire

Somerset will statesman nan defence of their Vitality Blast crown pinch a rematch of past season's final, hosting Hampshire Hawks successful Taunton connected Friday, 22 May.

It is 1 of 16 double-headers crossed nan opening play of nan 2026 run arsenic nan men's and women's competitions tally broadside by broadside successful a caller slimmed-down format.

The men's group stages person been reduced by 2 games to 12 matches per side, pinch nan quarter-finals and Finals Day pursuing connected straight truthful nan title is wrapped up successful 1 artifact earlier nan commencement of The Hundred.

Women's Finals Day will return spot connected 17 July astatine The Oval, a time earlier nan men's showpiece astatine Edgbaston.

There will beryllium 61 double-headers successful full adjacent twelvemonth and nan ECB opportunity nan revamp will consequence successful "greater attraction connected derby rivalries, much matches successful fan-friendly days and a much balanced schedule to support subordinate performance".

The erstwhile men's format of 2 groups of 9 sides will beryllium replaced by 3 groups of six divided into north, cardinal and southbound groups arsenic it was successful 2020.

Yorkshire Women's move to Tier 1 connected master position paves nan measurement for nan first Roses double-header, which will return spot astatine Old Trafford connected Friday, 10 July.

It besides intends nan building of nan women's T20 changes to 2 groups of nine.

The tier-one sides will playing 12 group-stage matches earlier Finals Day, while nan second-tier sides playing 8 group games earlier a abstracted three-team two-match Finals Day astatine Sophia Gardens connected Sunday, 12 July.

ECB managing director, competitions and awesome events, Neil Snowball said: "The changes to nan men's and women's Vitality Blast competitions for 2026 person been made successful bid to use fans and players alike.

"Every region will big a men's and women's double header, pinch 61 double-headers successful total, while nan important simplification successful back-to-back games gives players much opportunity to execute astatine their very champion passim nan competition."

Men's Vitality T20 Blast

North Group: Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Lancashire, Durham, Yorkshire, Leicestershire

Central Group: Gloucestershire, Northamptonshire, Warwickshire Bears, Somerset, Glamorgan, Worcestershire

South Group: Surrey, Sussex, Kent, Middlesex, Essex, Hampshire

Vitality Blast Women's Competition (Tier 1): Warwickshire Bears, Durham, Essex, Hampshire Hawks, Lancashire Thunder, Somerset, Surrey, The Blaze, Yorkshire.

Vitality Blast Women's League 2 (Tier 2): Derbyshire Falcons, Glamorgan, Gloucestershire, Kent, Leicestershire Foxes, Middlesex, Northamptonshire Steelbacks, Sussex Sharks, Worcestershire Rapids.