Kent Spitfires will host Hampshire in their opening fixture of the 2020 Vitality Blast competition.

Teams will be competing for a place in the finals Day at Edgbaston on Saturday, October 3, marking the end of the shortened domestic season.

The first match against Hampshire is scheduled for Thursday, August 27, but games will still be held behind closed doors. The club will continue to live-stream matches as they have been doing in the Bob Willis Trophy. All home games with be staged at Canterbury.

Director of cricket Paul Downton said: “We know our supporters have been waiting patiently to hear news about the start of this year’s Vitality Blast, so we’re pleased to now share our fixtures in this competition for 2020.

“Whilst we won’t be able to draw on the fantastic atmosphere our fans generate at our home matches, we have already seen the tremendous support shown to the players in the Bob Willis Trophy via e-mail and social media.

“I know that the players are all looking forward to the start of the Vitality Blast, and will look to build on some strong performances already this Summer.”

Kent will play 10 T20 games in the South Group with a potential quarter-final match on Thursday, October 1. Matches will be played home and away, although Kent will play their away fixture against defending champions Essex Eagles at the Oval due to broadcasting arrangements.

The South East Stars - a partnership between the ladies teams at Surrey and Kent - will begin their Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy campaign at Beckenham on Saturday, August 29, against Western Storm.

The 50-over competition competition has been created for this summer only to ensure women’s domestic cricket is played despite the challenges of Covid-19. Each team will play six group-stage matches with the top team in each group to progress to a final to be staged on Saturday, 26 September.

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