Vitality Blast, The 1st Central County Ground, Hove
Match Summary
- Surrey: 184-8 in 20 overs (Smith 45, Evans 41; Lamb 3-36)
- Sussex: 130 in 18.1 overs (Simpson 25; Curran 3-39)
- Surrey won by 54 runs
In a dominant display at Hove, Surrey overpowered Sussex Sharks by 54 runs to ascend to the top of the South Group in the T20 Blast.
Surrey’s Batting Performance
Opting to bat first, Surrey was propelled to a total of 184-8 thanks to Jamie Smith’s explosive innings of 45 runs off just 22 balls, including four towering sixes. After an aggressive start, where Dom Sibley contributed 24 from 17 deliveries, Surrey capitalised on the power play, accumulating 66 runs. However, Sussex clawed back into the contest during the middle overs, restricting the run flow to just 15 runs in the subsequent four overs.
Tymal Mills and Ollie Robinson led the fightback for Sussex, each bowling economically and claiming two wickets, with figures of 2-21 and 2-25 respectively from their four overs. But Smith’s fireworks, including a 19-run over off Jack Carson, and Tom Curran’s quickfire 24 from 13 balls, helped Surrey set a formidable target that proved too challenging for Sussex to chase.
Sussex’s Struggle in the Chase
Sussex’s pursuit of 185 started disastrously, losing two wickets within the first four deliveries. Despite John Simpson’s 25 off 21 balls, no other batsman managed to anchor the innings, leading to their downfall at just 130 in 18.1 overs, leaving 11 balls unplayed.
Tom Curran was instrumental in dismantling Sussex's lower order, finishing with figures of 3-39. The standout performer with the ball was Spencer Johnson, the Australian pacer, who opened the bowling and delivered an impressive spell of 2-20 from his four overs.
This commanding victory allowed Surrey to leapfrog Sussex and secure the top position in the South Group standings, marking their fourth win in six matches. Surrey's performance was a stark contrast to their previous game, where they tied with Gloucestershire.
Weather-Affected Game at Trent Bridge
In another match earlier in the day, only five overs were bowled due to inclement weather at Trent Bridge, where Notts Outlaws faced Durham. The start was delayed by rain, and despite a brief window allowing for a reduced 17-over game, the play was halted by thunder and lightning shortly after Durham’s innings began.
Sent in to bat, Durham managed to score 58 in five overs, led by Graham Clark’s 31 off 15 balls and Alex Lees’ 22 off 15. However, further play was impossible due to the adverse weather conditions. The interruption left Notts languishing at the bottom of the North Group, while Durham found themselves in seventh place, in a tightly contested table with only three points separating the second and ninth positions.