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The wait is almost over

The contemporary jewel of the domestic cricket season takes place at Trent Bridge on Saturday when the Twenty20 Cup finals day rolls into town.

Essex, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, and Surrey have all made it through to what promises to be an action-packed day for players and spectators alike.

Essex Eagles
Ronnie Irani's men enter uncharted territory after qualifying for their maiden appearance in the Twenty20 Cup climax with a five-wicket quarter-final victory over Yorkshire.

The Eagles were the class of the South division, finishing top with six wins, with their success built around a lengthy batting order that is the envy of every other team in the competition.

Irani's powerful batting has been a key factor in his side's progression to finals day - the former England player is the competition's third-highest run gatherer with 338.

That kind of batting prowess means even the stiffest of run chases are within Essex's reach, while the bowling will be spearheaded by the experience of Darren Gough, whose form has earned him a recall to England's one-day squad.

The 35-year-old seamer remains a master of bowling at the death in limited overs cricket, while the ECB have confirmed that batsman Alastair Cook will be available.

Leicestershire Foxes
The Foxes boast one of the competition's most economical bowlers - Stuart Broad - and a collection of all-rounders who always get the most from their modest talent.

Jeremy Snape's men have a wealth of experience, having reached the finals day on every occasion since the competition's inception in 2003, and are rightly regarded as a pioneering force in this format of the game.

This year they topped the North division and then disposed of Kent by nine wickets in a one-side last eight match at Grace Road.

In Darren Maddy, they have one of the ace batsmen in Twenty20 history and remain one of the finest fielding sides in the land.

Surrey Brown Caps
Surrey are another side with a fine pedigree in this competition having made at least the last four in every year.

But after winning the first-ever competition in 2003, the Brown Caps have been frustrated by consecutive defeats in the semi-finals, something they will be keen to put right at Trent Bridge.

Surrey's success around the turn of the century made them the team that everyone loves to beat and they will face a hostile reception at Trent Bridge as they bid to derail the hosts' challenge in the semi-finals.

There is no shortage of batting power in the Surrey ranks with explosive opener James Benning and Mark Ramprakash having batted beautifully during the early rounds.

Surrey's bowling is led by overseas duo Azhar Mahmood and Anil Kumble and, while they possess good variety, the remainder of the attack lacks firepower.

Nottinghamshire Outlaws
The finals day hosts are the surprise package, having won six games in the competitive North division and then thrashed Northamptonshire in the quarter-finals.

Stephen Fleming's side have been among the best teams in the longer format of the game for some time, but, until this season, had not prospered at Twenty20 level.

But a new approach, based around formidable contributions from the strong top order batting has seen them storm to their maiden finals day appearance.

They will enjoy vociferous support on their home ground as they bid to become the first team to win the Twenty20 Cup on home soil.

Further good news for the hosts is that the ECB have agreed to release wicketkeeper Chris Read, whose unorthodox strokeplay is a dangerous feature of the Outlaws' middle order.

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