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Received — 19 July 2026 ⏭

How to watch Vitality T20 Blast Finals Day 2026: Live stream online from anywhere

✇Techradar
18 July 2026 at 08:00

Edgbaston once again plays host to T20 Blast Finals Day, and with the two semi-finals out of the way, it’s down to Northamptonshire and Hampshire to decide which former champion takes England's domestic T20 crown in 2026. Northants last won the competition in 2016, while Hampshire lifted their third title more recently, in 2022.

Northants are through to their first final since their 2016 triumph and arrive on the back of a thrilling semi-final victory over defending champions Somerset, winners of two of the last three editions. After being bowled out for a modest 143, skipper David Willey and fellow seamer Ben Sanderson stepped up with three wickets apiece to seal a 17-run victory.

Facing Northants will be Hampshire, who boast an in-form batting lineup, led by captain James Vince, who struck 125 against Essex in the quarter-finals before following it up with a crucial 59 against Nottinghamshire in the semi-finals. Alongside the international experience of Tristan Stubbs, Liam Dawson, and Chris Wood, plus Joe Weatherley (who hit 88 in the semi-finals) and Sonny Baker, the Hawks will be confident of clinching their fourth title in a record 12th Finals Day appearance.

Read on for our guide on where to watch T20 Blast 2026 Finals Day live streams online and on TV wherever you are.

Can I watch T20 Blast 2026 Finals Day for free?

Unfortunately, the T20 Blast 2026 Finals Day isn't free-to-air anywhere in the world, at least not directly.

We have, however, found a sneaky little trick cricket fans Down Under can use to watch the two semi-finals and the final completely FREE. The trick? Kayo Sports, which comes with a 7-day free trial for new Australian users.

You'll need a VPN to prevent you from getting geoblocked if you're abroad right now. We recommend NordVPN.

How to watch any T20 Blast 2026 Finals Day live streams using a VPN

A VPN is handy piece of software that can make your device appear as if it's back in your home country, so you can unlock your usual service. The best VPN right now? We recommend NordVPN – it does everything and comes with up to 75% off.

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How to watch T20 Blast 2026 Finals Day live streams in the US

In the US, dedicated cricket streaming service Willow TV is the place to watch the 2026 T20 Blast Finals Day.

If you don't have it as part of your cable package, you can watch Willow's coverage through your choice of Sling TV's Desi Binge Plus or Dakshin Flex plans – starting from $10 per month.

Not in the US right now? Use NordVPN to watch your regular cricket stream.

Cricket fans in the US need look no further than Sling TV for T20 Blast 2026 coverage. The Desi Binge Plus, Dakshin Flex and Urdu plans all include Willow. Prices start from only $10 per month or $50 for six months.View Deal

How to watch T20 Blast 2026 Finals Day live streams in the UK

Sky Sports holds the rights to the 2026 T20 Blast Finals Day in the UK, with live coverage of both semi-finals and the final on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Cricket.

Prices start at £20 per month at present. However, fans can also tune in using a NOW Sports 24-hour pass, which costs £14.99.

Outside the UK right now? Use NordVPN to access your preferred coverage of the cricket.

How to watch T20 Blast 2026 Finals Day live streams in India

In India, the T20 Blast Finals Day is available to watch on Fancode. Subscriptions start at just Rs. 134 (~$1.39) per month.

If you're currently out of India but want to watch a T20 Blast 2026 Finals Day live stream, you'll need to get yourself a VPN, as per the instructions above.

Where to watch T20 Blast 2026 Finals Day live streams in Australia

In Australia, T20 Blast 2026 Finals Day games are available to watch on Fox Cricket via Foxtel, with live streaming available via Kayo Sports.

Kayo Sports starts at AU$30 per month after a 7-day free trial. Or you can get your first month for AU$1.

Outside Australia right now? Use NordVPN to access your preferred T20 Blast coverage.

T20 Blast 2026 Finals Day FAQs

What is the T20 Blast 2026 Finals Day schedule?

Semi-finals
11am BST / 6am ET — Northamptonshire vs Somerset
2:30pm BST / 9:30am ET — Hampshire vs Nottinghamshire

Final
6:45pm BST / 1:45pm ET — TBA vs TBA

What are the 2026 T20 Blast Finals Day squads?

Hampshire Hawks: Toby Albert, Ben Mayes, Nick Gubbins, Fletcha Middleton, Joe Weatherley, Ali Orr, James Vince, Jake Lehmann, Felix Organ, Tom Prest, Liam Dawson, James Fuller, Eddie Jack, Dominic Kelly, Ben Brown, Codi Yusuf, Kyle Abbott, Sonny Baker, John Turner, Brad Wheal, Chris Wood, Scott Currie. Overseas: Delano Potgieter (South Africa, until Tristan Stubbs arrives), Tristan Stubbs (South Africa, after IPL), Hilton Cartwright (Australia, all).

Northamptonshire Steelbacks: Arush Buchake, George Bartlett, Justin Broad, Rob Keogh, Gus Miller, Stuart van der Merwe, Saif Zaib, Aadi Sharma, Luke Procter, Raphael Weatherall, David Willey, Lewis McManus, Ricardo Vasconcelos, Louis Kimber, James Sales, Calvin Harrison, Liam Guthrie, Dominic Leech, Ben Sanderson, George Scrimshaw, Tiaan Louw, Harry Conway, Nirvan Ramesh. Overseas: Chris Lynn (Australia), Nathan McSweeney (Australia).

Somerset: Tom Abell, Tom Lammonby, Will Smeed, Tom Banton, Kian Roberts, Joshua Thomas, Fin Hill, Lewis Gregory, Lewis Goldsworthy, Migael Pretorius, JT Langridge, Thomas Rew, James Rew, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Craig Overton, Josh Shaw, Jack Leach, Alfie Ogborne, Jake Ball, James Theedom. Overseas: Riley Meredith (Australia, seventh group game onwards), Daniel Sams (Australia).

Notts Outlaws: Haseeb Hameed, Ben Duckett, Jack Haynes, Travis Holland, Ben Slater, Sam Seecharan, Sam King, Benjamin Martindale, Freddie McCann, James Hayes, George Munsey, Robert Lord, Lyndon James, Moises Henriques, Benny Howell, Kyle Verreynne, Dane Schadendorf, Liam Patterson-White, Dillon Pennington, Brett Hutton, Tom Giles, Francis Moore, Conor McKerr, Josh Tongue, Farhan Ahmed. Overseas: George Linde (South Africa).

Can I follow T20 Blast 2026 Finals Day on my mobile?

Of course! Each of the major broadcasters has a streaming service that you can access through a mobile app or via your phone's browser.

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service).2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad.We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

Received — 9 June 2026 ⏭

You Shall Not Pass: Scientists Identify New “Balrog” Cricket Species in Greek Island Tunnel

✇The Debrief
By: Austin Burgess
9 June 2026 at 13:09


A small Greek island on the eastern edge of the Mediterranean has revealed a new species inside a man-made tunnel carved into a hillside.

During a survey of Kastellorizo in the Dodecanese, researchers found a previously unknown cave cricket inhabiting an artificial underground passage on Mount Vigla. The species, described in the Journal of Orthoptera Research, is part of the genus Dolichopoda. These cave-dwelling crickets occur throughout southern Europe and the eastern Mediterranean, and often form distinct species when populations become isolated in separate underground habitats.

These cave-dwelling crickets  throughout southern Europe and the eastern Mediterranean and often form distinct species when populations become isolated in separate underground habitats.

The team named the species Dolichopoda balrogi after the Balrog, the ancient fire-demon who resided beneath the mountains in the Mines of Moria in J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings. In Tolkien’s story, the Balrog remained hidden underground until disturbed by the Dwarves.

An Island With No Caves

Kastellorizo covers about nine square kilometers, making it one of the smallest inhabited islands in Greece. The island is actually located closer to the Turkish coast than to the Greek mainland. The landscape also lacks any accessible natural caves. The only underground environment available for survey was a single man-made tunnel, which explains why the cricket remained undiscovered until now.

Morphological analysis of both male and female specimens showed that D. balrogi has a unique combination of physical features. The structure of the male epiphallus, the shape of the tenth tergite, and the form of the female ovipositor set it apart from other Dolichopoda species.

Molecular analysis confirmed this. DNA barcoding showed that the Kastellorizo population belongs to an evolutionary lineage alongside southwestern Anatolian Dolichopoda species, especially D. sbordonii and D. lycia. However, this is the first time an Anatolian Dolichopoda lineage has been documented within European territory.

A Biogeography Bridge

Kastellorizo’s location already makes it a unique case in the eastern Mediterranean. Although it is officially part of Greece, the island sits just a few kilometers from the Turkish mainland, and its plants and animals reflect this proximity. The discovery of D. balrogi fits this pattern since its closest relatives are not found on other Greek islands but along the coast of Anatolia.

This finding also adds to the evidence that Kastellorizo acts as a biogeographic bridge, hosting species with roots and connections that set them apart from the rest of the Aegean islands.

“These findings remind us that biodiversity discoveries are not limited to remote tropical forests or deep oceans,” added lead researcher Konstantinos Kalaentzis. “Even familiar landscapes and human-made structures can harbour species that have remained unnoticed.”

A Fragile Find

Cave-adapted organisms such as Dolichopoda crickets are particularly vulnerable. Their entire known range may extend only to a single tunnel, cave, or hillside. D. balrogi appears to only exist in this single man-made passage. Construction, flooding, or other disturbances to that habitat could eliminate the species before researchers fully understand it.

The authors note that documenting hidden subterranean fauna is a necessary first step toward protection, and that artificial underground environments should receive more attention as possible refuges for specialized cave-dwelling species.

The Greek islands are among the least studied archipelagos in the Mediterranean in terms of biodiversity. The discovery of a new species with Anatolian evolutionary roots in a single tunnel on a nine-square-kilometer island suggests that the region’s unexplored caves and crevices may harbor many more undiscovered species.

Austin Burgess is a writer and researcher with a background in sales, marketing, and data analytics. He holds an MBA, a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, and a data analytics certification. His work focuses on breaking scientific developments, with an emphasis on emerging biology, cognitive neuroscience, and archaeological discoveries.

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