The sixth Twenty20 cup finals day takes place at Hampshire’s Rose Bowl on Saturday and the stakes are high. With two Champions League places up for grabs, the old adage that no one remembers the losing semi finalists will be particularly pertinent.

It will be a long day for the loser of the Kent and Essex clash that kicks off proceedings, whilst Durham and Middlesex, both making their first finals day appearances, have an anxious wait ahead of their showdown. The $2.5m prize that the winner of October’s Champions League receives suddenly seems that much closer. 

Successful Twenty20 players lose their inhibitions and ignore the pressure of the situation, so it must be hoped that the incentive on offer on Saturday does not affect performances. These matches also represent the perfect shop window for England and IPL recognition.

Holders Kent have the necessary experience and therefore might have the edge on the day. Their 2007 cup winning team is largely still together and they showed admirable big match credentials in winning their win-or-bust last group match with Sussex and quarter final against Warwickshire from a losing position.

The Spitfires have won six of their 10 Twenty20 cup clashes with Essex and are the slight favourites to retain their superiority over their arch rivals (the inequality of the regional qualification process is highlighted by the fact that three southern counties reached the last four, none of whom have faced Durham before).

Kent have the bigger selection of match-winners, with Joe Denly and Yasir Arafat (second in the respective tournament run scoring and wicket taking charts) the most likely key contributors.

However, Twenty20 is all about reaching a popular audience and the man with the ‘X factor’ is undoubtedly Graham Napier. His 323 runs and 15 wickets prove his record-breaking ton at Chelmsford against Sussex was not a one-off performance and although the Eagles are not a one man team, if Napier fires, Essex have an excellent chance.

Durham are the current favourites and their band of internationals indeed makes them an attractive proposition. They have a particularly strong bowling unit and the Northern division winners have the advantage of playing recent Twenty20 cricket after beating Glamorgan in their delayed quarter final on Tuesday.

Unfancied Middlesex have continued to surprise all season, not least when they overcame Lancashire in the last eight after making a terrible start with the bat. Dawid Malan was the hero in that match, taking apart Lancashire’s spinners in a sparkling ton and his battle with the Dynamos’ all star bowling line-up could be the key.

The Crusaders also topped their group, so they should have nothing to fear if they progress to meet with one of their southern rivals. Middlesex and Durham will be encouraged by the fact that four of the five previous Twenty20 cup winners triumphed after winning the second semi final.

However, I expect the winner to come from the first semi final on this showdown, with Kent my selection for what is now the biggest prize in county cricket.