Steelbacks to progress to Blast semi-finals

Northants v Middlesex
Sky Sports 2, 6.30pm
West Indies v India
Sky Sports 3, 3pm
Northamptonshire, who were Twenty20 champions in 2013 and were runners-up last year, can seal a place at T20 Blast Finals Day once again with a home victory over depleted Middlesex tonight.

The Steelbacks relish the pressure of knockout ties while Middlesex go into their first quarter-final since 2008 with director of cricket Angus Fraser lamenting that the county have suffered “a season’s worth” of injuries in the last two weeks.

Brendon McCullum is their highest-profile absentee – the Kiwi star has not returned after back surgery – and Northants are a well-drilled side with talents such as Ben Duckett, who made 163 not out and 220 not out for England Lions last month.