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Twenty20 reaches a finale

Author: Rose Young
Date: 13/08/2009

Saturday is the day that Twenty20 Finals Day rolls into Edgbaston with the semi-finals and final played on one explosive afternoon.

The first semi will be contested by Northamptonshire Steelbacks and Sussex Sharks in the morning (11.30am).

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South African Andrew Hall will need to star with the bat and ball for Northants, compatriot Johan van der Wath will be keen to impress and England favourite Monty Panesar can be a wicket taking prospect.

The Steelbacks managed to get through to the finals day with a 13-run victory over Hampshire Hawks.

For the Sharks, big-hitting Luke Wright and Dwayne Smith will want to taste final success with some explosive sixes that they are more than capable of.

They can also add to their respectable averages in Twenty20 cricket this season. Captain Michael Yardy will be required to guide his side to the final.

The second semi features Kent and Somerset (15.00pm).

Kent will make their third straight appearance at the finals day and will be hoping Wayne Parnell, who has been made available by Cricket South Africa, can shine after his quarter-final heroics.

Kent will look to their impressive openers Rob Key and Joe Denly to hit them to success and they were in fine form against Durham Dynamos in the quarters. Geraint Williams behind the stumps will aim to be a key figure also.

Burly all-rounder Simon Cook was a star in the field during the quarter-final success against Durham Dynamos and will be looking to impress on the big stage once more.

Somerset Sabres will call on the imperious duo of former England batsman Marcus Trescothick and Aussie favourite Justin Langer to open up and put on a good score in order to progress to the main event later in the day.

The left-handers have been in exceptional form this season. Peter Trego is handy with the ball and can wield the willow to good effect.

Wicketkeeper Craig Kieswetter will be looking to stamp his mark on the day after an impressive summer.

They qualified for finals day in exceptional circumstances after their quarter final was rained off against Lancashire so they had a 'bowl off'.

The deadly accuracy of Alfonso Thomas helped the Sabres to a 5-1 success to push them into the finals. They will be requiring more of the same in Birmingham.

The day promises to be an action-packed, big hitting display and with Sussex and Kent the bookies favourites to progress and meet in the final, Northants and Somerset will want to overturn such opinion.

After Kent's heartbreaking three-run defeat in last year's final against Middlesex, they will be looking to go one better this time around.

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