Friends Life t20

Friends Life t20
Countries  England
 Wales
Administrator ECB
Format Twenty20
First tournament 2010
Last tournament 2013
Tournament format Group stage and knockout
Number of teams 18
Current champion Northamptonshire Steelbacks
Qualification Champions League Twenty20 (2011–12)
Website friendslife.co.uk/t20

The Friends Life t20 (previously known as the Friends Provident t20) was a Twenty20 cricket league in England and Wales run by the ECB from 2010 to 2013. The league consisted of the 18 first-class county teams divided into three divisions of six teams each. This plan, announced by the ECB in February 2009, replaced a more ambitious English cricket league project which would have included two overseas teams. The proposal was substantially modified following the credit crunch, and the change in circumstances of Allen Stanford himself. Friends Provident were announced as sponsors of the competition, having previously sponsored the 50-over competition.[1]

This tournament replaced the Twenty20 Cup as the premier domestic Twenty20 competition of England and Wales. It was then replaced by the NatWest t20 Blast from 2014.

History

Twenty20 Cup

The first official Twenty20 matches were played on 13 June 2003, between the English counties in the Twenty20 Cup. The first season of Twenty20 in England was a relative success, with the Surrey Lions defeating the Warwickshire Bears by nine wickets in the final to claim the Twenty20 Cup. On 15 July 2004 Middlesex versus Surrey (the first Twenty20 game to be held at Lord's) attracted a crowd of 26,500, the largest attendance for any county cricket game other than a one-day final since 1953.

By the end of the 2009 Twenty20 Cup, the ECB had decided to implement a larger competition for the Twenty20 format of the game. The Twenty20 English Premier League was a proposed cricket league to be run by the ECB. The league was to consist of 18 county teams and two overseas teams divided into two divisions of ten teams each. It was rumoured that the two overseas teams were to be a side fielded by Allen Stanford of the West Indies and the winners of the Indian Premier League.[2] After the disgrace of Stanford, this tournament was scrapped. The establishment of the Friends Life t20 contributed to the discontinuation of the Pro40 League,[2] and a second Twenty20 League (a revamped version of the outgoing Twenty20 Cup) to be held in July, August and September, played on Friday evenings.[3][4] This did not happen, and instead a modified 40 over league, the Clydesdale Bank 40 was implemented.

Friends Life t20

The t20 format of the game was introduced in 2010 (see 2010 Friends Provident t20). The eighteen counties were split into two regions, North and South, with the top four teams from each group progressing to the quarter-final knockout stage. The 2012 season saw a reduction in pool matches from 16 to 10 as the 18 first-class counties were divided into three geographical divisions, reverting to the format from the 2009 Twenty20 Cup.

The mascot derby

Every year on finals day there is a mascot derby.

Teams

Team Location County Division Home ground Coach Captain
Derbyshire Falcons Derby Derbyshire North County Ground Karl Krikken Wayne Madsen
Durham Dynamos Chester-le-Street County Durham North Riverside Ground Geoff Cook Phil Mustard
Essex Eagles Chelmsford Essex South County Ground Paul Grayson James Foster
Gloucestershire Gladiators Bristol Gloucestershire Midlands/Wales/West Nevil Road John Bracewell Alex Gidman
Hampshire Royals Southampton Hampshire South Rose Bowl Giles White James Adams
Kent Spitfires Canterbury Kent South St Lawrence Ground Jimmy Adams Robert Key
Lancashire Lightning Manchester Lancashire North Old Trafford Peter Moores Glen Chapple
Leicestershire Foxes Leicester Leicestershire North Grace Road Phil Whitticase Matthew Hoggard
Middlesex Panthers London Middlesex South Lord's Richard Scott Neil Dexter
Northamptonshire Steelbacks Northampton Northamptonshire Midlands/Wales/West County Ground David Capel Alex Wakely
Nottinghamshire Outlaws Nottingham Nottinghamshire North Trent Bridge Mick Newell Chris Read
Somerset Taunton Somerset Midlands/Wales/West County Ground Andy Hurry Marcus Trescothick
Surrey London Surrey South The Oval Chris Adams Rory Hamilton-Brown
Sussex Sharks Hove Sussex South County Cricket Ground Mark Robinson Michael Yardy
Warwickshire Bears Birmingham Warwickshire Midlands/Wales/West Edgbaston Ashley Giles Jim Troughton
Welsh Dragons Cardiff Glamorgan Midlands/Wales/West Sofia Gardens Matthew Mott Jim Allenby
Worcestershire Royals Worcester Worcestershire Midlands/Wales/West New Road Steve Rhodes Daryl Mitchell
Yorkshire Vikings Leeds Yorkshire North Headingley Carnegie Jason Gillespie Andrew Gale

Team results

Team Twenty20 Cup Friends Life t20
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
Derbyshire Grp Grp QF Grp Grp Grp Grp Grp Grp Grp Grp
Durham Grp Grp Grp Grp Grp SF QF Grp QF Grp QF
Essex Grp QF Grp SF Grp SF Grp SF Grp QF SF
Glamorgan Grp SF Grp Grp Grp QF Grp Grp Grp Grp Grp
Gloucestershire SF Grp Grp QF RU Grp Grp Grp Grp QF Grp
Hampshire Grp QF Grp Grp Grp Grp QF Won SF Won SF
Kent Grp Grp Grp QF Won RU SF Grp QF Grp Grp
Lancashire Grp SF RU Grp SF QF QF QF SF Grp QF
Leicestershire SF Won SF Won Grp Grp Grp Grp Won Grp Grp
Middlesex Grp Grp QF Grp Grp Won Grp Grp Grp Grp Grp
Northamptonshire Grp Grp QF QF Grp QF SF QF Grp Grp Won
Nottinghamshire Grp Grp Grp RU QF Grp Grp SF QF QF QF
Somerset Grp Grp Won Grp Grp Grp RU RU RU SF QF
Surrey Won RU SF SF Grp Grp Grp Grp Grp Grp RU
Sussex Grp Grp Grp Grp SF Grp Won QF QF SF Grp
Warwickshire RU QF QF Grp QF QF QF QF Grp Grp Grp
Worcestershire Grp QF Grp Grp QF Grp Grp Grp Grp QF Grp
Yorkshire Grp Grp Grp QF QF Grp Grp Grp Grp RU Grp
Team Winners Runner-Up Semi-Finalist
Hampshire Royals 2 (2010; 2012) 2 (2011; 2013)
Leicestershire Foxes 1 (2011)
Northamptonshire Steelbacks 1 (2013)
Somerset 2 (2010; 2011) 1 (2012)
Surrey 1 (2013)
Yorkshire Carnegie 1 (2012)
Sussex Sharks 1(2009) 1 (2012)
Lancashire Lightning 1 (2011)
Essex Eagles 2 (2010; 2013)
Nottinghamshire Outlaws 1 (2010)

Competition format

There are 18 clubs competing for the t20 title. For the 2010 and 2011 editions, the 18 clubs were initially split into 2 (North and South) groups, containing 9 teams in each. This forms the "group stage" of the tournament.[5] During the group stage (from June to August) each club played the others twice, once at their home stadium and once at that of their opponents, for a total of 16 games. Teams received two points for a win, one point for a tie and one point if the match was abandoned. No points were awarded for a loss. Teams were ranked by total points, then net run rate. At the end of the group stage, the top four teams from each group entered the knockout stage.[6]

From 2012 onwards the format returned to that used in the Twenty20 Cup up to 2009, with three regional groups of six teams reducing the number of group stage games to ten to be played with the top two teams in each group plus the two third-placed teams with the best records progressing to the quarter-final stage.[7]

The counties are able to register Twenty20 specialist players for the competition, and 2 overseas ("unqualified") players.[8]

Results

Year Final
Date Venue Winners Result Runners-up
2010
Details		 14 August 2010 Rose Bowl, Southampton Hampshire Royals
173 for 5 (20 overs)		 Won by losing fewer wickets (scores level)
Scorecard		 Somerset
173 for 6 (20 overs)
2011
Details		 27 August 2011 Edgbaston, Birmingham Leicestershire Foxes
145 for 6 (20 overs)		 Won by 18 runs
Scorecard		 Somerset
127 for 9 (20 overs)
2012
Details		 25 August 2012 Sophia Gardens, Cardiff Hampshire Royals
150 for 6 (20 overs)		 Won by 10 runs
Scorecard		 Yorkshire Carnegie
140 for 8 (20 overs)
2013
Details		 17 August 2013 Edgbaston, Birmingham Northamptonshire Steelbacks
194 for 2 (18 overs)		 Won by 102 runs (D/L)
Scorecard		 Surrey
92 all out (13.3 overs)

Media coverage

Sky Sports showed many games throughout the 2010, 2011 and 2012 seasons and is continuing to show them in 2013. S4C also offers some coverage with a few Glamorgan matches available with Welsh commentary.

Country TV Broadcaster(s)
 United Kingdom Sky Sports
 Pakistan PTV Sports
 India STAR Sports
 Wales S4C
 Australia Fox Sports

Records

Centuries in the Friends Life t20

Rank Player Team Runs Balls Year Against 4s 6s
1 Matt Prior Sussex Sharks 117 55 2010 Glamorgan Dragons 15 5
3 Wes Durston Derbyshire Falcons 111 59 2010 Nottinghamshire Outlaws 11 7
4 Richard Levi Northamptonshire Steelbacks 110* 62 2013 Glamorgan 15 4
5 Marcus Trescothick Somerset 108* 61 2011 Essex Eagles 12 5
6 Michael Klinger Gloucestershire Gladiators 108* 64 2013 Worcestershire Royals 9 5
7 James Hildreth Somerset 107* 60 2012 Welsh Dragons 15 1
8 Scott Styris Essex Eagles 106* 50 2010 Surrey 6 8
9 Azhar Mahmood Kent Spitfires 106* 57 2011 Gloucestershire Gladiators 13 3
10 Adam Gilchrist Middlesex Panthers 106 52 2010 Kent Spitfires 10 7
11 Ravi Bopara Essex Eagles 105* 62 2010 Somerset 8 6
12 Brad Hodge Leicestershire Foxes 103 66 2010 Nottinghamshire Outlaws 7 4
13 Ryan ten Doeschate Essex Eagles 102 54 2010 Middlesex Panthers 5 7
14 Hamish Marshall Gloucestershire Gladiators 102 54 2011 Middlesex Panthers 11 4
15 Herschelle Gibbs Yorkshire Carnegie 101* 53 2010 Northamptonshire Steelbacks 8 5
16 Jason Roy Surrey 101* 57 2010 Kent Spitfires 11 5
17 Scott Styris Sussex Sharks 100* 37 2012 Gloucestershire Gladiators 5 9
18 Jimmy Adams Hampshire Royals 101* 67 2010 Surrey 7 4
19 Murray Goodwin Sussex Sharks 100* 59 2011 Surrey 9 3
20 Jimmy Adams Hampshire Royals 100* 61 2010 Glamorgan Dragons 16 0
21 Michael Carberry Hampshire Royals 100* 66 2013 Lancashire Lightning 11 3

Team

Individual

References

  1. ↑ Friends Provident sponsor Twenty20, 15 October 2009, www.ecb.co.uk. Retrieved on 27 May 2010.
  2. 1 2 "ECB unveil new Twenty20 tournament". Cricinfo. 16 July 2008. Retrieved 16 July 2008.
  3. ↑ "New-look English Twenty20 agreed". BBC. 16 July 2008. Retrieved 16 July 2008.
  4. ↑ ECB To Replace Pro40 With EPL Twenty20 Competition
  5. ↑ Twenty20 groups confirmed, 18 October 2009, www.ecb.co.uk. Retrieved on 27 May 2010.
  6. ↑ Friends Provident t20 – format, www.ecb.co.uk. Retrieved on 27 May 2010.
  7. ↑ Friends Life t20 – format, www.ecb.co.uk. Retrieved on 30 November 2011.
  8. ↑ First Class Regulations and Playing Conditions 2010 – Regulations Governing the Qualification and Registration of Cricketers, www.ecb.co.uk. Retrieved on 27 May 2010.
  9. ↑ Gloucestershire v Middlesex, 26 June 2011, www.cricketarchive.co.uk. Retrieved 30 November 2011.
  10. ↑ Northamptonshire v Durham, 14 July 2011, www.cricketarchive.co.uk. Retrieved 30 November 2011.
  11. ↑ "Arul Suppiah's Twenty20 record sets up Somerset victory". BBC Sport. 5 July 2011.
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