Record of the day of the final: Winners – 2013 and 2016

2026 leading run scorer: Chris Lynn – 475

Best wicket-taker of 2026: James sales – 21

Group registration: Nine wins, three losses – 1st in the Central and West Group

Unlike their Central and West Group rivals Somerset, Northants’ participation in the knockout stage was never really in doubt, recording the best record of any team in the group stage.

They won their first eight matches, recording two of the competition’s 10 highest totals this year, but pulled away twice in the space of three games against Somerset, losing by 105 runs at home and then by seven wickets with 30 balls remaining in the trip to Taunton five days later, which will be food for thought ahead of their rematch in Saturday’s semi-final at 11:00 BST.

The Steelbacks got there with relative ease after Wednesday’s convincing win against Gloucestershire in the quarter-finals.

The visitors were in trouble at 20-3, but crawled to 103-4 in the 12th over before being bowled out for a modest 152, with the ever-reliable Ben Sanderson the pick of the bowlers at 4-20 and Calvin Harrison weighing in at 2-23.

Northants surpassed the target of 153 with ease. David Willey was the top scorer with an unbeaten 47, while Ricardo Vasconcelos (42) and Nathan McSweeney (28) also chipped in with valuable runs.

There was concern for veteran Australian batsman Chris Lynn, Northants’ leading scorer in the competition, who retired injured in the 18th over after being stubbed on the toe by Duan Jansen.

Northants have reached finals day for the sixth time and second consecutive season. The last time they did it was in 2016, winning the second of their two titles, three years after the first.

If they can get past Somerset they will potentially have their sights set on avenging last year’s semi-final defeat to Hampshire Hawks in the 6.45pm final.

Coach Darren Lehmann said: “We have some quality players in our team, they have worked very hard in the group stage and now it is a matter of going to play.

“We have the advantage of playing last year and knowing what it’s about. We have to stay in the moment and not look too far ahead, otherwise it will come back to haunt you.”