Two consecutive finals for a Dutch international: Competing for two different countries in Blast Tier Two and Tier One championship finals over two consecutive days.
Women's T20 Blast Undergoes Major Changes for 2026 Season
The Women's T20 Blast in England is set for a significant overhaul in the 2026 season, with the two-tier county system expanding to nine counties per tier.
Currently, the top tier, Tier 1, consists of eight counties playing 14 group games each, while Tier 2 is divided into North and South groups, featuring ten counties with each playing eight group-stage matches. However, starting from 2026, Yorkshire will join Tier 1, increasing the number of counties to nine. Each team will play 12 group matches, with 4 opponents played twice and 4 played once. The top four teams will progress to an expanded Finals Day, featuring two semi-finals and a final.
Tier 2, too, will have nine counties, with each playing eight matches in a single group rather than two regional groups. The top three teams will progress to a Finals Day with an eliminator and a final. Notably, before 2026, Tier 2 was regionalized, but after 2026, it will become a single group.
Here's a summary of the changes:
| Tier | Number of Counties | Match Format | Progression | |---------------|--------------------|----------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------| | Tier 1 (2025) | 8 | 14 group matches (home and away vs all) | Finals Day (eliminator and final) | | Tier 1 (2026) | 9 | 12 group matches (4 teams twice, 4 teams once)| Top 4 to Finals Day (2 semifinals + final) | | Tier 2 | 9 (from 2026) | 8 group matches (single group, home/away) | Top 3 to Finals Day (eliminator + final) |
Surrey and Birmingham Bears are set to face each other in the Tier One final, with the Bears setting 164 for Surrey to chase in the Qualifier for the Tier One final at The Oval. In a dramatic turn of events, Surrey were bowled out for 143 with five balls of the innings remaining.
Middlesex, on the other hand, have made a remarkable run, getting through both the semi-final and final of the Tier One event without losing a wicket.
Yorkshire, who are set to move up to Tier One next year, have already made their mark in Tier Two, qualifying for the Tier Two Blast finals day after dominating the North group.
Meanwhile, Lauren Winfield-Hill has been a standout player, representing Essex in Tier One and Yorkshire in Tier Two during the competition. Sterre Kalis, who has primarily represented Birmingham Bears, has also been in fine form, scoring 45 off 33 balls for Birmingham Bears in the Qualifier for the Tier One final at The Oval.
The Women's T20 Blast is a thrilling competition, offering live scores, match stats, quizzes, latest news, player updates, team standings, match highlights, video analysis, and live match odds. Don't miss out on the action!
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