Summary

  • Kent Spitfires beat Birmingham Bears by 21 runs

  • Kent made 162-7 after Bears won toss and bowl

  • Half-centuries from Daniel Bell-Drummond and Sam Billings; Tim Bresnan took four wickets

  • Bears fall short as they are bowled out for 141; Matt Milnes takes 4-24

  • Kent join Sussex Sharks, Hampshire Hawks and Somerset at Finals Day

  • Hampshire v Somerset and Kent v Sussex in semi-finals at Edgbaston on Saturday, 18 September

Live Reporting

Adam Lanigan and Adam Williams

  1. Thank you and good night!

    LeaningRex Features

    So time to pack up the coloured clothing for a few weeks and get those whites out again.

    Between now and Monday there's of course the small matter of the Third Test match at Headingley between England and India to reach its conclusion.

    Make sure you follow that across BBC Sport through the weekend.

    For now - we'll say good night from Canterbury and leave you with the smiles from the Kent players who booked their place at a first Finals Day for 12 years.

    Until next time - thanks for being with us.

  2. The County Championship returns

    Six sides chase the title from Monday

    Lewis GregoryGetty Images

    Well, after four quarter-finals in four evenings, it's time for the white ball to make way for the red ball in county cricket.

    The County Championship moves into its second stage from Monday as the 18 counties split into three divisions with the winners of the top division being crowned champions come the end of September.

    As ever, we'll have live ball-by-ball radio commentary on all fixtures plus we'll also be bringing you all the latest updates and analysis through our text updates.

    Make sure to join us on Monday from 10:30 BST for all the action.

  3. Well, well - what a week of T20 Blast quarter-finals we've been treated to.

    Have no fear - county cricket will be back in just a few days time...

  4. Birmingham Bears captain Will Rhodes speaking on Sky Sports:

    "We got the basic skills wrong, but fair play to Kent, they deserved to win.

    "We thought 162 was just below par and we were quietly confident. But at 50-6 in a run chase in a quarter-final, it's only going one way.

    "Their spinners bowled really well in the middle and Qais Ahmad, that's why you pay the money for these overseas stars."

  5. Kent captain Sam Billings speaking on Sky Sports:

    "It's been a bit of a hurdle for us to get over quarter-finals, but this team have got over that stumbling block and fully deserve it.

    "We've had a couple of close ties where it hasn't gone our way previously, but it's a great credit to how everyone really fought hard right through the game to get us into it and then defend that score in the field.

    "It's great for the fans that we're back at another Finals Day. They've been terrific for us in recent years."

  6. Semi-final draw

    Here's how the sides will line up then for the semi-finals at Edgbaston on Saturday, 18 September:

    • Kent v Sussex
    • Hampshire v Somerset

  7. Matt Cole
    on BBC Radio Five Live Sports Extra

    It's a clean sweep of the quarter-finals from the south group sides.

    T20 Finals Day will be an all-southern affair, ironically for the Bears, at Edgbaston.

  8. KENT BEAT BIRMINGHAM BY 21 RUNS
    Breaking

    Kent are through to their first T20 Finals Day since 2009.

    They'll take their place at Edgbaston on 18 September after an excellent all-round display. Bell-Drummond and Billings laid the foundations with half-centuries with the bat and their bowlers had the Bears under the pressure from the off.

  9. wicket

    WICKET Briggs c Blake b Milnes 0

    Birmingham 141 all out (Kent win by 21 runs)

    All over and from the last ball, Blake is under a steepler from Briggs. Safe hands and the party can begin in Canterbury!

  10. Ben Watts
    on BBC Radio Five Live Sports Extra

    It seemed like a score that was light at halfway, but Kent's tactic in this competition has always been, bat first, post a score and then get the bowlers to put pressure on the chasing side.

    It's paid off again for them this evening.

  11. wicket

    WICKET Bresnan c Cox b Milnes 24

    Birmingham 140-9 (Target 163)

    Start the car, Kent are going to T20 finals day.

    Jordan Cox takes a brilliant catch out in the deep to dismiss Bresnan and that is job done for the Spitfires.

  12. Matt Milnes to bowl the final over. 25 needed off six balls.

  13. Matt Cole
    on BBC Radio Five Live Sports Extra

    That should be it but what a sparkling innings from Jake Lintott.

    But Adam Milne - he came, he saw, he conquered with his final delivery of this quarter-final.

  14. wicket

    WICKET Lintott b Milne 41

    Birmingham 138-8 (Target 163)

    Jake Lintott's thrilling 20-ball cameo is over.

    Brilliant yorker from Milne and the bails are sent flying.

  15. Birmingham 138-7

    Need 25 runs from 7 balls

    Milne to bowl the penultimate over.

    Lintott starts with a thick outside edge for four to take him to 36. He'd only scored 37 T20 runs in total before this. Dot ball to respond and then Lintott can only smear a single off the third ball.

    Bresnan through for a single - not what his side needs.

    Lintott resumes his cameo with a lovely flick over deep fine leg for another boundary. Showing his top order how to do it.

  16. Ben Watts
    on BBC Radio Five Live Sports Extra

    This is a great part of the Jake Lintott Movie.

    Sometimes it's just your night as a cricketer!

  17. 6 runs

    Birmingham 127-7

    Need 36 runs from 13 balls

    Lintott is now top scorer for the Bears, but you're asking a lot for your number nine to do the work.

    Although he's not a number nine on this evidence as he smashes Klaasen over mid off for a glorious six.

  18. Ben Watts
    on BBC Radio Five Live Sports Extra

    That's been fetched for six by Jake Lintott over the head of Alex Blake.

    Kent thought it would be his bowling to fear tonight, but he's proving a real danger with the bat.

  19. 6 runs

    Birmingham 119-7

    Need 44 runs from 16 balls

    Milne can't quite grab one low down in the deep as Lintott tries to smear one down to the boundary, but from the next ball, he sends a massive one over deep long-on.

  20. Matt Cole
    on BBC Radio Five Live Sports Extra

    You'd think that Kent should easily close it out from here, but are there some late fireworks to come from the Bears?