Vitality Blast (England) 2022/23

The Vitality Blast stands as the premier domestic Twenty20 cricket competition in England and Wales. Founded in 2003 by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), it occupies the top tier of the domestic T20 pyramid, distinct from the long-form Metro Bank One-Day Cup and the franchise-based Hundred. Participation is fixed by county status, involving all 18 first-class clubs, including Glamorgan as the sole Welsh representative, with no promotion or relegation.

The competition structure is undergoing a significant shift. While the traditional format split eighteen teams into two geographical groups of nine, with the top four from each advancing to knockout quarter-finals, semi-finals and a final on a single 'Finals Day' at Edgbaston, the 2026 season introduces three regional groups of six teams.

Leicestershire holds the record as the most successful club with three titles, won in 2006, 2011 and 2022. Somerset are the current champions, having secured the 2025 final against Hampshire by chasing a record 195 runs. The tournament has seen various commercial partners over the years, including Friends Provident, Friends Life and NatWest.

The Blast is defined by its adherence to traditional county structures rather than city-based franchises. This reliance on established county identities separates it clearly from other modern formats, maintaining the historic links between clubs and their local communities while delivering the fast-paced 20-over format devised by ECB marketing manager Stuart Robertson.