"Somerset will begin the defence of their Vitality Blast crown with a rematch of last season's final, hosting Hampshire Hawks in Taunton on Friday, 22 May. It is one of 16 double-headers across the opening weekend of the 2026 campaign as the men's and women's competitions run side by side in a new slimmed-down format. The men's group stages have been reduced by two games to 12 matches per side, with the quarter-finals and Finals Day following on directly so the competition is wrapped up in one block before the start of The Hundred."
"Women's Finals Day will take place on 17 July at The Oval, a day before the men's showpiece at Edgbaston. There will be 61 double-headers in total next year and the ECB say the revamp will result in "greater focus on derby rivalries, more matches in fan-friendly days and a more balanced schedule to support player performance". The previous men's format of two groups of nine sides will be replaced by three groups of six split into north, central and south groups as it was in 2020."
Somerset will begin the defence of their Vitality Blast crown against Hampshire Hawks in Taunton on 22 May as part of the opening weekend. The 2026 campaign features 61 men's and women's double-headers, with 16 on the opening weekend and competitions running side by side in a slimmed-down format. The men's group stage is reduced to 12 matches per side and reorganised into three regional groups of six, with quarter-finals and Finals Day staged consecutively to conclude before The Hundred. The women's structure moves to two groups of nine with tiered scheduling and separate Finals Days in July.
Read at www.bbc.com
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