It's easy (& entirely correct) to take the piss out of Lancs. But the anger of their fans shows how much the Counties mean to their supporters. In contrast, the Manchester Originals were shocking in this year's Hundred, but did anyone actually care or get angry about it?

Ball gets Willey

FINALS DAY BABY!!! (what a strange anticlimax the end of that match was)

Somerset become the first county to reach Blast finals day four years in a row...twice Most consecutive years reaching Blast finals day: 6 - Hampshire (2010-2015) 4 - Leicestershire (2003-2006), Surrey (2003-2006), Somerset (2009-2012), Somerset (2021-2024)

Tom Harrison in Wisden 2018 btw

A record 44,000 fans have attended the Vitality Blast quarter-finals this week, beating the previous record of 39,000 in 2013! 🙌 The Kia Oval also set a quarter-final record for a single match with more than 19,000 fans attending Surrey’s win over Durham 👏

Warwickshire

You Bears

What a match A match that actually matters Played by authentic, meaningful teams Watched by fans that actually care

This year will see the third all-south finals day in four years 2021: 4 south, 0 north 2022: 2 south, 2 north 2023: 4 south, 0 north 2024: 4 south, 0 north 14 finals day slots out of 16 taken by southern teams

Counties losing four T20 quarter-finals in four years Warwickshire 2007-2010 Nottinghamshire 2011-2014 Warwickshire 2021-2024 Nottinghamshire's streak was particularly impressive as all four were at home

Confirmation on Sky that Somerset v Surrey will be the first semi-final This will be Somerset's 10th appearance at finals day but only the second time (after 2021) they have played in the first semi

Give this thread a read:

And 3 of the 4 Blast semi-finalists are non-Hundred hosting counties Goodnight x