The 2024 Vitality Blast concluded in front of a raucous crowd at Edgbaston as Gloucestershire won the competition for the first time defeating local rivals Somerset by eight wickets.
It was an emotional evening for Gloucestershire, winning the competition in front of their former fast bowler and current president David Lawrence, who was recently diagnosed with motor neurone disease.
Gloucestershire’s success was stirring, only qualifying through from the South Group through the skin of their teeth, edging out fifth-placed Essex on Net Run-Rate, and helped by an epic and unlikely tie away to Surrey at the Kia Oval. Central to their success in the knockouts were their pair of left-arm seamers, David Payne and Matt Taylor, who both make Wisden’s 2024 T20 Blast team of the tournament.
Daniel Hughes - Sussex
596 runs @ 39.73; SR: 167.88
Five fifties; HS: 96*
The uncapped Australian was an inspired overseas signing for Sussex finishing the competition as its leading run-scorer and helping his side secure a home quarter-final in the process.
Michael Pepper - Essex
535 runs @ 44.58; SR: 193.84
Two hundreds, two fifties; HS: 120*
Pepper has been one of the most explosive openers in the Blast for some time now. This year, he took his game to another level notching two hundreds which includes a ridiculous 53-ball 120 not out in a successful chase of 208 down at Hove.
Sam Hain – Birmingham
569 runs @ 63.22; SR: 137.43
Six fifties; HS: 98*
Another season in which Hain has been a model of consistency – no one passed fifty as often as Hain did in 2024 as his Birmingham side topped the North Group.
Jamie Smith – Surrey
285 runs @ 35.62; SR: 203.57
Two fifties; HS: 87
Despite missing seven games for England Test duty, Smith was still the third most prolific six-hitter in the tournament. Smith was destructive in the Surrey middle order, and was particularly brutal against spin. His first-ball duck in Surrey’s semi-final against Somerset proved decisive.
Tom Alsop – Sussex
337 runs @ 33.70; SR: 164.39
Two fifties; HS: 87*
Alsop has been a T20 player transformed since moving from Hampshire to Sussex two years ago, generally operating in the heart of the middle order. The highlight of his campaign was a brutal 41-ball 87 not out from No. 6 against Kent.
Jacob Bethell – Birmingham
361 runs @ 36.10; SR: 153.61
Four fifties; HS: 71*
Six wickets @ 14.33; ER: 6.78
A breakout year for the Birmingham all-rounder was rewarded with a first senior England call-up. There are few players around the country who strike a ball as cleanly as Bethell does – this was particularly evident in his 15-ball fifty against Northants in June. His left-arm spin is useful enough to have been used on his international debut against Australia in Southampton.
Lewis Gregory – Somerset
216 runs @ 27; SR: 168.75
One fifty; HS: 53
19 wickets @ 18.89; ER: 7.97
Another outstanding campaign for Gregory, who is fast becoming one of the most respected captains in the country. He bowls difficult overs for his side and often bails them out with the bat – one of the best all-rounders in the domestic game.
Nathan Sowter – Durham
19 wickets @ 16.73; ER: 6.48
Two years ago, Nathan Sowter thought his professional career had ended after Middlesex released him at the end of the 2022 season. His subsequent move to Durham has reinvigorated his career; in 2024, he was a major factor in their qualification for the knockouts.
David Payne - Gloucestershire
33 wickets @ 12.75; ER: 6.29
Payne was justifiably named as the player of the tournament after performing a star role for eventual champions Gloucestershire. The one-time England quick was sublime as Gloucestershire’s attack leader, finishing the competition with 33 wickets – a joint all-time Blast record.
Tymal Mills - Sussex
24 wickets @ 19.50; ER: 8.06
The Sussex skipper is perhaps unfortunate to be out of the England reckoning at this moment of time. He enjoyed another outstanding campaign for his side, who reached the semi-finals for the first time in three years.
Matt Taylor - Gloucestershire
29 wickets @ 14.37; ER: 6.91
Taylor completes the left-arm heavy seam attack. The 30-year-old has been at Gloucestershire for well over a decade but this was by far his most productive season, his crowning moment coming at Edgbaston, taking six wickets on Finals Day in two dominant victories. 13 of his 29 wickets came in the powerplay, where he routinely put his side ahead of the game early doors.
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