In a rain-shortened Vitality Blast match at the Kia Oval, South Group leaders Surrey retained their composure in a nail-biting finale to defeat Kent Spitfires by five runs.
When play eventually started two hours and twenty-five minutes later, Surrey, fielding with an unknown batting lineup, did well to score 103 for 5 from 10 overs.
Then, just as Kent was ready to begin their reply, additional rain arrived, meaning that, according to Duckworth/Lewis estimates, they would need 87 from eight overs.
In a rain-shortened Vitality Blast match at the Kia Oval, South Group leaders Surrey retained their composure in a nail-biting finale to defeat Kent Spitfires by five runs.
When play eventually started two hours and twenty-five minutes later, Surrey, fielding with an unknown batting lineup, did well to score 103 for 5 from 10 overs.
Then, just as Kent was ready to begin their reply, additional rain arrived, meaning that, according to Duckworth/Lewis estimates, they would need 87 from eight overs.
In the second over, Muyeye struck Dan Worrall for a brilliant lofted six and a slashed four, but Jordan Clark only conceded six runs in the third over, and after half their innings had been completed, Steel’s excellent over had left Kent on 29 for 2.
To keep Kent in the game, Billings struck the Surrey skipper, who was back with Topley from England’s T20 World Cup campaign, for four over mid off after Khushi had hammered Chris Jordan over long on for six.
However, with Kent requiring 17 from the final over, Khushi’s dismissal from the penultimate over’s final ball—which Steel brilliantly caught while diving forward at far on—felt like a huge momentum swing back to Surrey.
Jordan had a no ball to start, which was followed by a leg bye, but Tom Rogers, the new batsman, could only extract a yorker from the free hit opportunity. He then cut Jordan apart for four off the next ball, but neither he nor Billings (14 not out) could find the boundary again as Jordan’s accuracy under duress ended the game.
When Surrey was 94 for five with one ball left to be bowled at the conclusion of their innings, it was the other pivotal point in the game.
Grant Stewart appeared to be keeping Surrey’s total below 100 till then, even after two offside wides. However, he then threw down a waist-high no ball full toss, which Ben Geddes lashed away high for six behind square.
After Clark crunched an extra cover four before getting caught at long off for seven, the over ended with 19 runs after an additional ball was introduced. From that ball, a bye was scrambled.
Five further sixes were hit in Surrey’s attempt, the first two coming from Laurie Evans off spinner Marcus O’Riordan and paceman Nathan Gilchrist. After hitting one beautiful off-driven four, Evans, who had replaced Ryan Patel in the first over, skyed Stewart to keeper Billings. He then produced a powerful twenty-five before hitting O’Riordan to far off.
Matt Parkinson’s leg spin was muscled by Dom Sibley for six overs in his twenty, culminating in a catch at deep mid wicket off Joey Evison. Jordan removed the medium pacer for six, and Rory Burns scored an incredible sweep maximum off Gilchrist.
On the second ball of their reply, Kent saw Daniel Bell-Drummond give up an easy catch. He hit Topley high to deep square leg, where 19-year-old rookie Ollie Sykes made his grab.
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