How Northants reached T20 Blast Finals Day
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- Northants win by seven wickets to reach Finals Day
- David Willey hits 100 and takes 3-27
- Willey hit 34 off one Michael Yardy over and reached century with six
- Fifties for Jayawardene & Nash in Sussex's 165-7
Live Reporting
By Gary Smee
All times stated are UK
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Post update
Well, that's about all we've got time for tonight.
It's certainly a game that will live long in the memory thanks to David Willey's brilliant century.
Don't forget, we'll be back tomorrow from 18:15 BST with live text and radio commentary of the second quarter-final between Birmingham Bears and Essex Eagles from Edgbaston.
Until then, thank you for joining us and goodnight.
Northants beat Sussex by seven wickets
Northants captain Alex Wakely on David Willey's innings to Sky Sports:
"It's certainly the best Twenty20 innings I've ever seen. The fact it was chasing, in a big game, it was absolutely phenomenal.
"He's a really calm character. It was as clean striking as I've ever seen. He's just getting better and better."
Northants beat Sussex by seven wickets
Northants captain Alex Wakely told Sky Sports:
"It feels pretty good. There's been a few difficult times around the club at the moment, but all we can do is concentrate on the cricket and getting to Finals Day is a massive part of that. We're obviously chuffed.
"They got off to a really good start, but we knew we had to get a couple of wickets and the wickets kept coming for us and that's why we managed to claw it back."
Northants beat Sussex by seven wickets
Northants coach David Ripley told BBC Radio Northampton:
"It was a very special performance. We got the underdogs tag against a strong Sussex side and we really dug in and from the halfway stage of their innings. A brilliant catch from Josh Cobb gave us a lift and we really got stuck in the last 10 overs of their innings.
"I thought they were under par with that score and then it was all about David Willey from that point. It was unbelievable striking.
"We know he is capable of doing it and it's great personally that he got to his 100. He's a Northampton lad and it's a special moment that he's got us to Finals Day."
Northants beat Sussex by seven wickets
Sussex skipper Luke Wright told Sky Sports:
"You're just trying to chop and change the bowlers but he (David Willey) had an answer to everything we did.
"Unless we could have fielders in the middle of Hove somewhere tonight then we couldn't get near him.
"It was like watching (Chris Gayle) bat the way he was hitting it sometimes.
"We've just got to say well played to him, congratulations to Northants, the way they fielded and chased those runs down was credit to them."
Northants beat Sussex by seven wickets
Sussex skipper Luke Wright told Sky Sports:
"At one point we were hoping to be 180, but that great catch of (Josh) Cobb changed the innings. It was a very special catch.
"Mahela (Jayawardene) was playing beautifully at the time. I still think at the halfway stage you're still in the game with 165.
"That innings (of David Willey) was pretty special and if we'd got him it could have been a very different game."
Post update
So we now know Northants are through to Finals Day at Edgbaston on Saturday, 29 August.
Here's a reminder of how the rest of the quarter-finals shape up...
Birmingham Bears v Essex - Thursday, 13 August (18:30 BST) - Edgbaston
Worcestershire v Hampshire - Friday, 14 August (17:30 BST) - New Road
Kent v Lancashire - Saturday, 15 August (14:30 BST) - Canterbury
BreakingNORTHANTS BEAT SUSSEX BY SEVEN WICKETS
Sussex 165-7 (20 overs), Northants 166-3 (16 overs)
Northants are going to Finals Day! Steelbacks captain Alex Wakely wins it by reverse sweeping Will Beer for four.
But it was David Willey's marvellous century which made sure this game was as good as over half way through the innings.
The England man blasted 10 sixes in his 41-ball 100 with some of the cleanest striking you're ever likely to see.
Sussex were probably 20 or 30 runs light, but I'm not sure it would have mattered with Willey in that sort of form.
What a night at Hove!
Northants 161-3 (Cobb 21, Wakely 4)
Target 166
Josh Cobb deposits Will Beer over the mid-on boundary for 13th maximum of the innings.
Just 5 runs needed.
Northants 155-3 (Cobb 15, Wakely 4)
Northants need 11 runs from 30 balls
Northants are doing this in singles and twos, but that's all they need.
Chris Jordan's 15th over goes for just five runs.
The home crowd are now heading for the exits. They know the game is over.
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WICKET Duckett (c Nash b Beer 5)
Northants 148-3 (Cobb 12) Target 166
Ben Duckett loses a bit of concentration and hits Will Beer straight into the hands of Chris Nash at deep mid-wicket.
Northants need 18 runs from 38 balls. You'd have to think that wicket was academic.
Northants 145-2 (Cobb 10, Duckett 4)
Northants need 23 runs off 43 balls
It's all gone a bit quiet out there, but that is because David Willey has single-handedly won this game for Northants.
Chris Liddle concedes four runs off his third over.
I forgot to say earlier amid the carnage that Willey's 40-ball century was the fastest in this season's T20 Blast, beating Brendon McCullum's 42-ball ton for Birmingham Bears against Derbyshire.
Northants 141-2 (Cobb 8, Duckett 2)
Target 166
Michael Yardy, who was smashed for 34 in his last over, comes back well as he concedes just four runs from the 12th.
Ben Duckett has replaced David Willey at the crease.
Northants need 25 off 48 balls. A walk in the park.
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WICKET Willey (c Bailey b Mills 100)
Northants 137-2 (Cobb 6) Target 166
Ah, he's gone the ball after reaching his hundred.
David Willey tries to smack his 11th six, but holes out to George Bailey on the deep mid-wicket boundary off Tymal Mills.
But he's played a sensational innings that will live long in the memory and put the Steelbacks in the semi-finals. Surely?!
DAVID WILLEY SMASHES 100 (40 balls, 7 fours, 10 sixes)
Northants 137-1 (Target 166)
David Willey brings up a magnificent century with his 10th maximum.
Another huge hit over square-leg off Tymal Mills.
He has won this game for his side, no doubt about that.
Northants 128-1 (Willey 93, Cobb 5)
Target 166
This is getting ridiculous from David Willey now. But stunning to watch.
He launches Tymal Mills' first two balls of the over for six, the first over long-on, the second slammed over square-leg.
He's just seven short of a century.
Northants 116-1 (Willey 81, Cobb 5)
Northants need 50 runs off 60 balls.
Well, I'm absolutely speechless after what David Willey just did in that previous over.
But Will Beer keeps his head in the next over and concedes just four runs.
The Hove crowd is silent and a few are even leaving, but they are witnessing something special here.
Northants 112-1 (Cobb 3, Willey 79)
Target 166
This is UNBELIEVABLE striking from David Willey.
He has just smashed Michael Yardy for 34 off the over.
Six, four, six, six, six, six.
Willey is 79 off 32 balls.
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Kevin Howells
BBC Radio 5 live sports extra
FIFTY FOR DAVID WILLEY (27 balls, 6 fours, 3 sixes)
Northants 84-1 (Target 166)
David Willey launches Michael Yardy for another big maximum over the mid-wicket fence to bring up his 50.
Absolutely superb hitting from Willey.
Northants 78-1 (Cobb 3, Willey 45)
Target 166
That's a fine over from Will Beer.
After removing Richard Levi, the 26-year-old concedes just four runs.
Replays suggest Levi was a bit unlucky to be given out. The ball looked like it was heading down the leg side.
WICKET Levi (lbw b Beer 24)
Sussex 74-1 (Willey 44) Target 166
Will Beer has struck with his first ball!
Richard Levi tries to reverse sweep the leg-spinner but cannot connect and the ball thuds into his pad.
Up goes the finger, cue wild celebrations from the home players and fans.
Is it too little too late though?
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Northants 73-0 (Levi 23, Willey 44)
Target 166
Richard Levi hits Chris Liddle a mile into the air but it's still got the legs to go over the mid-on boundary.
Two balls later and Levi dispatches him over square-leg for another maximum.
Someone needs to stem these runs for Sussex. And quickly.
Northants 60-0 (Levi 11, Willey 43)
Northants need 106 runs from 84 balls
It's a much better over from Chris Jordan but Sussex can't stop the boundaries.
Jordan fires in a yorker which just misses Richard Levi's off-stump before the big South African smashes him over mid-on for four.
Northants' powerplay by a mile.
Northants 53-0 (Levi 6, Willey 41)
Target 166
Richard Levi gets in on the act now as he swats Chris Liddle to the mid-wicket boundary.
David Willey has 41 from 21 balls.
Northants are going to win at a canter if this carries on.
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Northants 48-0 (Levi 2, Willey 40)
Target 166
That is out the ground!
The ball is right in the slot from Chris Liddle and David Willey clears his leg and swipes him over mid-wicket for his second maximum.
Clean hitting of the highest order from the England all-rounder.
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Northants 38-0 (Levi 2, Willey 30)
Northants need 128 more runs from 16 overs
Tymal Mills is causing all sorts of problems here with his pace.
However it's a slower ball which almost does for David Willey.
The left-hander tries to pull it away but completely mis-times it and the ball falls just short of Mahela Jaywardene.
To make things worse it bounces past the Sri Lankan and rolls to the boundary.
Northants 30-0 (Levi 2, Willey 23)
Target 166
He had a bit of a nightmare with the bat, and I'm sorry to say Chris Jordan's first over hasn't gone to plan either.
David Willey follows up his maximum with three more boundaries.
An expensive over. 18 from it.
Willey has 23 from 13 balls and is flying.
Northants 18-0 (Levi 2, Willey 11)
Target 166
Welcome back Chris Jordan. David Willey smashes his first ball straight back over his head for a massive six.
That was huge.
Northants 12-0 (Levi 2, Willey 5)
Target 166
Tymal Mills takes the new ball at the other end for Sussex and troubles both batsmen with his pace which is touching 90mph.
David Willey plays a couple of streaky inside edges as just four runs come off the over.
Fine start from Mills.
Northants 8-0 (Levi 1, Willey 4)
Target 166
Michael Yardy concedes just one run from his first five deliveries but then ruins things with a horrible leg-side wide which sees the batsmen also run three.
To make things worse, the extra delivery is swept for four by David Willey.
Post update
They're back out at Hove already.
Michael Yardy will open the bowling for Sussex. Richard Levi to face.
The target is 166.
Australia take charge of Women's Test
Meanwhile, at Canterbury, Australia are on charge of the Women's Ashes Test after bowling England out for 168 on day two.
The tourists, already four points to two up in the multi-format series, earlier declared on 274-9 in their first innings.
Post update
Luke Wright may have failed to fire earlier, but this man is equally as destructive with the bat.
What can Richard Levi do for Northants?
Azharullah signs new Northants deal
The news is that fans' favourite Azharullah has signed a new two-year deal.
The 31-year-old is Northants' leading wicket-taker in the T20 Blast with 15 victims at an average of 22.46.
Click here to read more.
Post update
Northants will begin their run chase shortly. In the mean time, and in case you've missed it, here's a bit of good news for Steelbacks fans that broke earlier this afternoon.
Sussex 165-7 (Machan 15, Yardy 0)
Sussex can't get the ball away to the boundary in the final over either as David Willey concedes just eight runs.
You'd take that.
The hosts will probably feel they're about 20 or 30 runs light after such a fine start.
But they've got a decent score to defend, so we'll see what happens.
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You might remember that Styris hit 100 off 37 balls to help Sussex beat Gloucestershire by 39 runs in their 2012 quarter-final at Hove. That was the last time the south-coast county reached Finals Day.
WICKET Beer (c Coetzer b Willey 16)
Sussex 161-7 (Machan 11)
Will Beer is gone now. He smashes David Willey towards the mid-wicket boundary but it's an easy catch for Kyle Coetzer.
Two balls left.
Sussex 159-6 (Machan 11, Beer 14)
Wow, that is magnificent from Olly Stone on the mid-on boundary.
Will Beer launches David Willey into the sky but Stone leaps and throws the ball back in with one hand on the boundary rope.
He saves a clear six.
Sussex 157-6 (Machan 11, Beer 12)
That's a wonderful over from Azharullah.
The paceman fires in yorker after yorker and the batsmen simply cannot get underneath the ball.
Just seven runs came from it.
Post update
Kevin Howells
BBC 5 live sports extra
Sussex 150-6 (Machan 9, Beer 7)
Will Beer replaces Chris Jordan at the crease and plays a cheeky scoop shot for a boundary.
A single off the final ball of David Willey's over sees Sussex bring up 150.
Two overs left, can they get to the magic 180 mark?
WICKET Jordan (c Crook b Willey 6)
Sussex 142-6 (Machan 8)
That might be a blessing in disguise for Sussex as Chris Jordan didn't look in any form at all.
He tries to launch David Willey over mid-wicket but instead gets a big top edge which Steven Crook snaffles at mid-off.
Sussex 140-5 (Machan 8, Jordan 4)
You can tell Chris Jordan has been out for two months as he looks all at sea out in the middle.
After Matt Machan's maximum, Jordan chips Rory Kleinveldt in the air down to mid-off but the ball falls just short of the fielder.
Sussex 138-5 (Machan 7, Jordan 3)
Is this the start of the Sussex charge?
Matt Machan absolutely creams one over the cover boundary for a maximum off Rory Kleinveldt.
Tremendous shot.
Sussex 131-5 (Machan 1, Jordan 2)
That's another fine over from Josh Cobb as he concedes just one run.
Chris Jordan simply can't get the spinner away as he plays out five dot balls before scampering a quick single.
Sussex will do well to get up to 180 from here.
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WICKET Cachopa (b Kleinveldt 13)
Sussex 129-5 (Machan 1)
Oh dear, this Sussex innings is starting to fall apart.
Craig Cachopa smashes a lovely straight four over the head of Rory Kleinveldt, but gets an inside edge on the next ball and it flies into his stumps.
The returning Chris Jordan is the new man at the crease. We all know he can strike a big ball.
WICKET Nash (lbw b Kleinveldt 55)
Sussex 124-4 (Cachopa 9)
Erm, okay Chris Nash won't be there at the end because he's just been trapped lbw by Rory Kleinveldt.
The opener swings across the line, but misses the ball and the finger goes up.
Sussex in danger of throwing away their fine start here.
Sussex 122-3 (Nash 53, Cachopa 9)
How many are Sussex going to get then?
Six overs left. If Chris Nash is there in the 20th over, you'd have to say 180-200 will be on the cards.
FIFTY FOR NASH (33 balls, 5 fours, 2 sixes)
Chris Nash has done a fine job of anchoring this Sussex innings and brings up a fine half century by sweeping Josh Cobb for four.
He will want to stay there until the end though.
Sussex 113-3 (Nash 46, Cachopa 7)
Make that three overs in a row without a boundary as Olly Stone concedes just six runs from his third over.
A fine comeback from the 21-year-old after his first six balls went for 17.
Sussex won't want to let their good start slip away, but the two wickets have hurt them.
Sussex 107-3 (Nash 44, Cachopa 3)
Another over without a boundary for Sussex.
Josh Cobb keeps things tight conceding six singles.
It's been a decent couple of overs for Northants.
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WICKET Bailey (lbw b Stone 5)
Sussex 101-3 (Nash 41)
George Bailey is given out lbw, but he's hugely unlucky.
The Australian gets a huge inside edge off the final ball of Olly Stone's over, but is sent on his way.
He looks very disappointed and rightly so.
Sussex 97-2 (Nash 39, Bailey 4)
I think we all need to get our breath back after that Josh Cobb catch.
Australian George Bailey is the new man at the crease and finds the boundary with his second ball off Azharullah.
Sussex still in a fine position despite the loss of Mahela Jayawardene.
Post update
Alex Winter
BBC Radio Northampton sport
WICKET Jayawardene (c Cobb b Azharullah 50)
Sussex 92-2 (Nash 38)
What. A. Catch!
That is simply sensational from Josh Cobb. Mahela Jayawardene pulls Azharullah away and it looks like it's going for another boundary.
But Cobb races round, leaps to his right and pulls off a stunning one-handed catch inches from the ground.
I'm not exaggerating when I say it's one of the best catches I've ever seen.
Sussex 87-1 (Nash 37, Jayawardene 50)
Another single for Chris Nash to end the ninth over.
What a fine start this is for Sussex.
FIFTY FOR JAYAWARDENE (30 balls, 9 fours, one six)
Sussex 86-1 (Nash 36, Jayawardene 50)
Mahela Jayawardene brings up a well deserved half-century.
He pulls Steven Crook to the mid-wicket boundary before clipping a single through the leg-side for his fifty.
Well batted sir.
Sussex 80-1 (Nash 35, Jayawardene 45)
Another max for Chris Nash as he pulls Steven Crook over mid-wicket.
Both batsmen are motoring along and a score of over 200 could be on the cards.
Sussex 74-1 (Nash 29, Jayawardene 45)
This is wonderful, inventive batting from Mahela Jayawardene.
The batsmen struggle to get Josh Cobb's first four balls away, so Jayawardene decides to create something by getting on one knee and playing another ramp shot for four.
He then sweeps Cobb for another boundary. The Steelbacks need to find a way to stop these runs.
Sussex 62-1 (Nash 27, Jayawardene 35)
We have our first ramp shot of the night ladies and gentlemen!
Mahela Jayawardene gets down onto one knee and scoops Steven Crook's second ball over the head of the wicketkeeper and down to the boundary.
Make that two ramp shots for four. Chris Nash repeats the feat at the end of the over and if anything the ball went even finer.
Post update
Kevin Howells
BBC Radio 5 live sports extra
Sussex 53-1 (Nash 23, Jayawardene 30)
The boundaries continue to flow for Sussex.
After Chris Nash's six, Mahela Jayawardene helps a leg-side delivery from Azharullah away to the boundary.
It's the end of the powerplay and you'd have to say Sussex are on top despite the early wicket of Luke Wright.
Sussex 47-1 (Nash 22, Jayawardene 25)
What a tremendous shot that is by Chris Nash.
Azharullah comes into the attack but his second ball is dispatched over the leg-side boundary by the opener for a maximum.
Fine piece of timing.
Sussex 39-1 (Nash 14, Jayawardene 25)
Mahela Jayawardene follows up that huge maximum by driving a full toss from Olly Stone through extra cover for another boundary.
Couple of singles to finish an over which has cost 17 runs.
A poor start for Sussex has suddenly turned into a decent one.
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Sussex 33-1 (Nash 13, Jayawardene 20)
Take that Olly Stone! Mahela Jayawardene pulls the young bowler for four over mid-wicket and then goes one better the next ball with a huge six in the same area.
Marvellous to watch.
Sussex 22-1 (Nash 12, Jayawardene 10)
Mahela Jayawardene is beginning to motor now with a couple of fours in David Willey's second over.
Firstly he dances down the track and hits Willey inside-out over cover.
Willey then replies with a sharp bouncer which hits the Sri Lankan on the helmet grille, but he's okay.
Jayawardene replies by playing a similar inside-out shot for another boundary.
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Remember, BBC Radio 5 live sports extra, BBC Sussex and BBC Radio Northampton are all covering this evening's game. Click on the 'live coverage' tab to make your selection.
Sussex 14-1 (Nash 12, Jayawardene 2)
To rub salt into the wound Chris Nash cuts the next ball for four after he was dropped by Rory Kleinveldt.
It's always the way isn't it?!
Sussex 10-1 (Nash 8, Jayawardene 2)
Dropped catch! Chris Nash smashes the ball back at Rory Kleinveldt but the big South African can only get a fingertip on the ball.
A difficult chance. One that either sticks or it doesn't.
Sussex 9-1 (Nash 8, Jayawardene 1)
The wicket of Luke Wright brings Sri Lankan great Mahela Jayawardene to the crease.
He gets off the mark from the final ball of the over, placing a crisp punch through the off-side.
David Willey has got the all important breakthrough though and Northants are buzzing.
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WICKET (Wright c Stone b Willey 0)
What a start that is for David Willey as he removes Luke Wright for a third ball duck, but you have to say it was a poor shot from the Sussex skipper.
Wright tries to hit the left-armer over mid-wicket but the ball wasn't quite the right length to do so and he spoons it to Olly Stone at mid-on.
Stone pulls off a fine diving catch. Big blow for the Sharks.
Sussex 8-0 (Nash 8, Wright 0)
Chris Nash starts proceedings by whacking South African seamer Rory Kleinveldt over mid-on for a boundary.
He plays out a couple of dot balls before launching a sweet cover drive through the off-side for another four.
Kleinveldt finishes the over well though with another two dot balls, but a nice start for the hosts.
Post update
So here we go then, our first quarter-final is about to get under way.
Rory Kleinveldt will open the bowling for the Steelbacks, with Chris Nash to face.
Listen to the action
Sussex v Northants (18:30 BST)
As well as following our live text coverage of this evening's quarter-final, we also have a choice of listening for you.
Click on the 'live coverage' tab above to select from a choice of three commentaries.
Kevin Howells will be leading the BBC Radio 5 live sports extra coverage from Hove, while if you want something a little more partisan then select either the BBC Sussex or BBC Radio Northampton commentary.
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Quarter-final line-up
Finals day is fast approaching but who is going to get to Edgbaston? Here's this week's quarter-finals line-up.
Sussex v Northants - Wednesday, 12 August (18:30 BST) - Hove
Birmingham Bears v Essex - Thursday, 13 August (18:30 BST) - Edgbaston
Worcestershire v Hampshire - Friday, 14 August (17:30 BST) - New Road
Kent v Lancashire - Saturday, 15 August (14:30 BST) - Canterbury
Join the debate at #bbccricket
Sussex v Northants (18:30 BST)
Sussex skipper Luke Wright has lit up this year's T20 Blast competition - scoring 564 runs at a strike rate of 173.53.
However, he has not played for England since last March with Alex Hales and Jason Roy overtaking him in the pecking order.
His overall stats in the shortest format are up there with the best T20 players in the world, so is there still a place for Wright in this England side?
Let us know what you think. Get in touch on Twitter using the #bbccricket
TOSS & TEAM NEWS
Sussex v Northants (18:30 BST)
The news from the middle of a sun-bathed Hove is that Northants skipper Alex Wakely has won the toss and elected to bowl first.
Spinner Graeme White misses out for the Steelbacks with a side-strain so Kyle Coetzer comes in for him.
As we already mentioned, Chris Jordan and Mahela Jayawardene are in the Sussex Sharks line-up, so Harry Finch and Ollie Robinson make way.
Here are the full line-ups.
Sussex: Wright (capt), Nash, Machan, Bailey, Jayawardene, Cachopa, Jordan, Yardy, Beer, Liddle, Mills
Northants: Levi, Willey, Cobb, Duckett, Wakely (capt), Crook, Coetzer, Kleinveldt, Keogh, Stone, Azzharullah
An international flavour
Sussex v Northants (18:30 BST)
With 25,957 runs under his belt for Sri Lanka in all three formats, Mahela Jayawardene is without a doubt one of the greats of the game.
Tonight, the 38-year-old returns to the Sussex side after missing the final few group matches for a spell in the Caribbean Premier League.
However, he's not the only international star on show at Hove.
England's Chris Jordan is back for the Sharks after two months out with a side-strain.
Sussex captain Luke Wright has played more than 50 T20Is for England, while Northants have South African Richard Levi and England's David Willey opening the batting.
Full team and toss news to follow...
Post update
We had nail-biting finishes, plenty of six-hitting and a whirlwind appearance from a certain 'Gayle Force', but the group stages of the T20 Blast are now done and dusted.
Eight teams are left to battle it out for a place at Finals Day on 29 August at Edgbaston.
In about 15 minutes time we have our first quarter-final - Sussex Sharks against Northants Steelbacks - with an array of international talent on show.
So sit back, relax and let us take you through what promises to be another exciting night of T20 cricket.