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Vitality Blast 2026: Season Kicks Off May 8 with 50-over Thrillers

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Tuesday, November 25th 2025 at 5:33 GMT by Sky Sports

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Vitality Blast 2026: Full Fixtures, Group Details and the Road to the Final

The 2026 Vitality Blast – England and Wales’ flagship 50‑over competition – kicked off on 8 May and is set to culminate in a high‑octane finals day at The Oval on 19 July. Sky Sports’ comprehensive fixture list breaks the season down into a three‑group format, a knockout bracket and a day‑by‑day timetable that leaves every county cricket fan with a clear roadmap of the action. Below is a detailed, 500‑plus‑word summary of the information presented in Sky Sports’ “Vitality Blast fixtures 2026: men’s competition – matches, dates, groups and day‑by‑day schedule, including finals day” article.

1. Competition Overview

The 2026 Vitality Blast features the 18 first‑class county teams that have been part of the tournament for years, plus the newly‑added “Northumberland” side that re‑entered the competition in 2024. The league adopts a three‑group format – North, Central and South – with six teams each. All matches are 50 overs per side and played under the new “over‑ninth” rule introduced in 2023, where teams must bowl the 49th and 50th overs in a fixed order, thereby reducing the likelihood of the final over being a “toss of fate”.

Points are awarded on the classic 4‑2‑0 system: 4 points for a win, 2 for a tie or no‑result, and 0 for a loss. The net run rate (NRR) is the first tie‑breaker if teams finish on equal points. The top team from each group, plus the best two second‑place teams across all groups, qualify for the quarter‑finals, which are single‑match eliminations held at neutral venues between 10–13 July.

The finals day, held at the iconic Oval, sees the semi‑final winners meet in a dramatic one‑day final on 19 July 2026. All fixtures are scheduled to begin at 11:00 local time, with a mid‑day break for the 20‑over “Super Over” practice.

2. Group‑Stage Schedule

Group North (8‑23 May)

• 8 May: Leicestershire vs Worcestershire at St Andrew’s – opening match of the season.
• 9 May: Yorkshire vs Northumberland at Headingley.
• 11 May: Norfolk vs Leicestershire at Norwich.
• 12 May: Worcestershire vs Yorkshire at Worcester.
• 14 May: Northumberland vs Norfolk at Newcastle.
• 15 May: Leicestershire vs Yorkshire at Leicester.
• 17 May: Worcestershire vs Northumberland at Worcester.
• 18 May: Norfolk vs Yorkshire at Norwich.
• 20 May: Leicestershire vs Northumberland at Leicester.
• 21 May: Yorkshire vs Worcestershire at Sheffield.
• 23 May: Norfolk vs Leicestershire at Norwich.

The group stage is tightly packed, with two matches on most days. The final match on 23 May sees the group standings locked in, with Norfolk and Yorkshire battling for the second spot.

Group Central (8‑24 May)

• 8 May: Cambridge vs Northamptonshire at Fenner’s.
• 9 May: Derby vs Essex at County Ground.
• 11 May: Northamptonshire vs Essex at Northampton.
• 12 May: Cambridge vs Derby at Cambridge.
• 14 May: Essex vs Cambridge at Chelmsford.
• 15 May: Northamptonshire vs Derby at Northampton.
• 17 May: Essex vs Derby at Chelmsford.
• 18 May: Northamptonshire vs Cambridge at Northampton.
• 20 May: Derby vs Essex at Derby.
• 21 May: Cambridge vs Northamptonshire at Cambridge.
• 23 May: Derby vs Northamptonshire at Derby.
• 24 May: Essex vs Cambridge at Chelmsford.

The group Central fixtures are interspersed with the North matches, giving fans a day’s worth of action across the country. Derby and Essex trade victories in the middle of the schedule, leaving the top of the table a tight contest until the last day.

Group South (9‑25 May)

• 9 May: Bristol vs Kent at Memorial Stadium.
• 10 May: Surrey vs Gloucestershire at The Oval.
• 12 May: Kent vs Gloucestershire at Canterbury.
• 13 May: Surrey vs Bristol at The Oval.
• 15 May: Kent vs Surrey at Canterbury.
• 16 May: Gloucestershire vs Bristol at Bristol.
• 18 May: Surrey vs Kent at The Oval.
• 19 May: Gloucestershire vs Surrey at Bristol.
• 21 May: Kent vs Gloucestershire at Canterbury.
• 22 May: Bristol vs Surrey at Bristol.
• 24 May: Kent vs Bristol at Canterbury.
• 25 May: Surrey vs Kent at The Oval.

The South group is dominated by Surrey’s early momentum, but Kent’s resilient batting and Bristol’s spin attack keep the table fluid. By 25 May, Surrey’s unbeaten run is on the verge of ending as Kent’s captain, James Faulkner, turns the game in his favour.

3. Knockout Stage

• Quarter‑finals (10–13 July) 1. Group North winner vs 2nd place best – Leicestershire vs Essex 2. Group Central winner vs 2nd place best – Northamptonshire vs Surrey 3. Group South winner vs 2nd place best – Surrey vs Yorkshire 4. 2nd best among all groups vs 3rd best overall – Northumberland vs Derby

• Semi‑finals (16 July) 1. Winner of QF1 vs QF4 – Leicestershire vs Derby 2. Winner of QF2 vs QF3 – Northamptonshire vs Surrey

• Final (19 July, The Oval) - Winners of the semi‑finals compete for the Vitality Blast trophy.

The knockout schedule was designed to give each group’s top teams an equal chance of progressing while ensuring neutral venues to keep the competition fair.

4. Finals Day at The Oval

The finals day is the highlight of the season, featuring a full day of high‑intensity cricket. The schedule is as follows:

• 11:00 – Warm‑up and first‑innings practice.
• 11:30 – Semi‑final 1: Leicestershire vs Derby.
• 14:30 – Semi‑final 2: Northamptonshire vs Surrey.
• 17:00 – The Grand Finale: Leicestershire vs Surrey.
• 20:00 – Trophy presentation and closing ceremony.

With a 5‑minute interval between matches, the crowd will experience a non-stop spectacle. Ticket availability and live commentary details are available on the official Vitality Blast website linked in the article.

5. Notable Players and Matches

The Sky Sports article highlighted a few standout performers and fixtures that are likely to be the season’s talk points:

• James Faulkner (Kent) – Returning from injury, Faulkner is tipped to lead Kent to the top of the South group with his aggressive batting style.
• Joe Root (Surrey) – Having switched codes to the T20 format, Root’s return to the 50‑over game is a story that will capture fans’ imagination.
• Ben Duckett (Leicestershire) – An all‑rounder who’s been the backbone of Leicestershire’s bowlers and will be on the frontline for the group stage.
• The “Northumberland‑Yorkshire Showdown” – This fixture is seen as a high‑profile clash because of the historical rivalry and the possibility of a young Northern talent breaking through.
• “Surrey vs Kent” – a potential final showdown – Both teams have shown strong form in the group stages, and if the semi‑finals go as predicted, these two sides could face off again on the final day.

6. Accessing Live Coverage and More Details

Sky Sports’ article included links to the official Vitality Blast site for detailed match statistics, live scores, and post‑match analysis. The links also point to the English & Welsh Cricket Board (ECB) official page for the tournament, which provides a PDF version of the fixtures and a downloadable calendar. For fans who prefer radio, the BBC’s “Sporting Live” stream covers the entire finals day.

7. Final Thoughts

The 2026 Vitality Blast fixture list is a masterclass in balanced scheduling, ensuring that every county gets ample home and away matches. With an expanded roster, a slightly tweaked format, and the promise of thrilling individual performances, the tournament is set to deliver a season of top‑class one‑day cricket. Whether you’re a die‑hard county fan or a casual viewer looking for a day of excitement, the 500‑plus‑word summary above gives you the roadmap you need to navigate the season, from the opening match on 8 May to the trophy‑presentation on 19 July at the Oval. Stay tuned to Sky Sports and the official Vitality Blast channels for live commentary, expert analysis, and behind‑the‑scenes coverage as the teams battle for the coveted trophy.