Did you see this shot from Steve Smith at the Test match? What a remarkable player he is. Who knows what unusual strokes we will see this evening but these two teams have struck 263 fours and 121 sixes between them during this year's competition thus far.

Lancashire are unchanged from their last group game against Leicestershire so a powerful-looking batting line-up at skipper Dane Vilas' disposal once again.

Essex, who snuck into these quarter-finals thanks to a late run to fourth in the South Group, are without Mohammad Amir on the bowling front tonight.

Aaron Beard gets the nod there but they are otherwise unchanged from a win against Kent last Friday.

Lancashire: Davies, Livingstone, Croft, Maxwell, Jennings, Vilas (c/wk), Bohannon, Faulkner, Mahmood, Gleeson, Parkinson.

Essex: Delport, Westley, Wheater (wk), Lawrence, Ten Doeschate, Bopara, Walter, Harmer (c), Beard, Porter, Zampa.

We may see some interruption this evening - and in the quarter-finals, semis and final, in the result of a tie after the DLS method has been in use, there will be a Super Over. Surely we won't have another finish like the one we all remember at Lord's a few weeks back?

Join the conversation with us throughout this evening's quarter-final by using #bbccricket

Are any of you so bold to name your four semi-finalists at this early stage and potentially an overall winner?

Worcestershire Rapids will be hoping to book themselves a return to Edgbaston later this week for another shot at their title.

We'll have in-play highlights throughout the evening and contributions from England Women's Kate Cross and Nottinghamshire all-rounder Steven Mullaney as we discover who will be the first team through to Finals Day.

And Essex have won it and decided they will let Lancashire bat first.

There has been some heavy rain in Durham this afternoon but it's dry at the moment and we're ready for the toss.

Look at those temperatures, feeling even cooler in that fresh north-westerly. But it takes a lot for them to come off in this format. We'll see if the bails stay on, did you see them take them off in the Test match because of the gusts at Old Trafford?

What a day T20 Finals Day is - and this year the four semi-finalists can look forward to an increased allocation. Last year's quartet received only 530 tickets each but this time around each county will have 750.

Image source, Getty Images

So after six weeks of group games, we've whittled 18 counties down to eight in this year's T20 Blast.

Tonight sees the first of the four quarter-finals between now and Saturday and here's what's on the bill for you:

Wednesday: Lancashire Lightning v Essex Eagles

Thursday: Notts Outlaws v Middlesex

Friday: Sussex Sharks v Worcestershire Rapids

Saturday: Gloucestershire v Derbyshire Falcons

The prize that awaits the winners of those four ties is a trip to Edgbaston for Finals Day on Saturday 21 September and a shot at taking home the coveted T20 Blast trophy.

As well as coverage on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra this evening our BBC local radio colleagues from BBC Radio Lancashire and BBC Essex are also in place to provide commentary.

Find your commentary of choice at the top of the page.

Image source, Rex Features

Yes it's a change of scenery for the Red Rose this evening as they take their home tie 143 miles away from Old Trafford - where something else is taking place apparently (don't you just hate a double booking?) - to Chester-le-Street, as we welcome you to our coverage of Lancashire v Essex from the Emirates Riverside.

Hello again, it's T20 quarter-finals time, Lancashire v Essex, but not as we know it...

Image source, Rex Features