The Vitality T20 Blast 2022 season was one of the most exciting and competitive editions of the professional Twenty20 cricket league played in England and Wales. The tournament ran from 25 May to 16 July 2022, featuring 18 teams divided into two groups: North and South. Each team played 14 matches in the group stage, with the top four teams from each group advancing to the quarter-finals. The winners of the quarter-finals then qualified for the Finals Day, which was held at Edgbaston on 16 July.
The group stage saw some thrilling matches and outstanding performances from both batsmen and bowlers. The top run-scorer of the tournament was James Vince from Hampshire, who amassed 678 runs in 16 innings at an average of 48.42 and a strike rate of 143.62. He scored eight fifties and one century, with a highest score of 102 not out against Somerset. The top wicket-taker of the tournament was Richard Gleeson from Lancashire, who claimed 25 wickets in 15 innings at an average of 18.28 and an economy rate of 8.14. He took three four-wicket hauls, with a best of 4 for 17 against Durham.
The quarter-finals were played between 6 and 9 July, with some close contests and high-scoring chases. Hampshire beat Birmingham by 104 runs, chasing 186, Birmingham knocked out at 82 runs only, thanks to James Faulkner who took 4 wickets. Lancashire beat Essex by seven wickets, chasing down a target of 162 in the 16th over, thanks to a superb innings of 76 unbeaten by Steven Croft. Somerset beat Derbyshire by 191 runs, posting a record total of 265 and then restricting the opposition to merely 74 was really a comprehensive win. Yorkshire beat Surrey by only one run, Quarterfinal 1 was played at the Oval.
The Finals Day was held on 16 July at Edgbaston, with a packed crowd and a festive atmosphere. The first semi-final saw Yorkshire take on Lancashire in a high-scoring thriller. Yorkshire posted a mammoth total of 204 for 7, thanks to a Tom Kohler-Cadmore who score 66 on 44 balls. Lancashire chased down the total inside 19 overs with the help of the scintillating knock of Keaton Jennings, he scored 75 off 41 balls. The second semi-final saw Hampshire take on Somerset seems to be a one-sided game that was won comfortably by Hampshire with a margin of 37 runs.
The final saw Hampshire take on Lancashire in a dramatic and controversial finish. Hampshire batted first and scored a competitive total of 152 for 8, thanks to some useful contributions by Ben McDermott (62), Rose Whitely (20), and Chris Wood (20 not out). Lancashire started well in their chase, but lost wickets at regular intervals and needed eleven runs off the last over with three wickets in hand. Nathan Ellis bowled a superb final over for Hampshire, Lancashire need six off two balls, followed by 2 runs on the next ball, which left Lancashire to hit a boundary to win the T20 Blast 2022. Ellis overstepped the last ball and gave away 2 runs as well. On the free-hit Lancashire could only fetch 1 run of Bye which wasn’t enough for them to win the trophy. Hampshire celebrated their victory by one run, while Lancashire were left stunned.
Hampshire lifted their third T20 Blast trophy, while Ben McDermott was named the player of the match and James Vince the player of the tournament. The Vitality T20 Blast 2022 season was a memorable one for cricket fans across England and Wales, who witnessed some high-quality cricket and some dramatic twists and turns.
