Surrey’s breathtaking depth delivered a masterclass in the T20 Blast quarter-finals. That made it six straight wins with a dominant performance against the Hampshire Hawks at the Ageas Bowl! The victory took Surrey up to third place in the South Group table. This victory highlights their incredible defense, as the tournament moves into the later stages.
Right from the start, Surrey’s batting order made their intentions clear. Openers Dom Sibley and Will Jacks set the tone with an ace partnership, scoring 74 runs off just 45 balls. Sibley was particularly impressive, scoring 70 runs off 46 balls, while Jacks contributed significantly with 41 runs from 24 deliveries. Their affinity for early artistry provided a sturdy platform to the narrow margin the squad finished in 10th overall.
At the end of the six-over powerplay, Surrey were off to a flier, with 59 runs on the board and no wickets down. Despite losing Jason Roy early in the innings, run out by a spectacular effort from James Vince after scoring only seven runs, Surrey maintained their momentum.
The innings kept blossoming as captain Sam Curran made a fast 38 off only 20 balls. Curran’s doggedness and Sibley’s unchanging approach came together to take Surrey to a solid total. They batted out their 20 overs to post a score of 193 for 6.
Surrey’s bowlers then took charge. Spinner Mitchell Santner played a huge hand, taking 2-36, his second including bowling tailender Chris Wood. Milestone man Will Smith was on fire, taking three for 18. He had Benny Howell caught by Jason Roy, and then got John Turner lbw after he holed out to Jacob Bethell.
Hampshire’s response wasn’t up to scratch, the title holders all out for just 133 with 13 balls remaining. Further Fortune favoured their chase when they lost three wickets in the space of seven balls, including the powerplay’s final stages. Further to the mix, this was a critical setback as they sought to run down Surrey’s hefty total.
Lhuan-dre Pretorius made his mark, showcasing his power hitting with 14 runs from Reece Topley’s first over upon his return to the Surrey squad. Hampshire’s innings never really clicked into gear and they were unable to forge any substantial partnerships.
Sibley said he was very proud of how well the team performed.
“I think it was a good all-round performance. It was a good score with the bat and then we bowled amazing, and then backed it up in the field.” – Dom Sibley
Hampshire’s head coach Adi Birrell acknowledged his team’s struggles during the chase.
“They got [an] above par score. It is tricky when you are chasing a big total and then you lose three wickets in a row at the back end of the powerplay.” – Adi Birrell
Surrey’s recent win further cements their spot in the tournament. Their success embodies a balanced approach, fusing hard-hitting offense with game-winning bowling. Now the T20 Blast moves into the home straight, Surrey could hardly be better placed to make a challenge for top honors with their present form.
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