By Huzaifa Yousafzai from Kia Oval
Surrey have now qualified for back to back Finals Days by producing a complete team performance at home to dismantle Durham in the quarterfinals of the Vitality T20 Blast.
The two teams met for the first time in Blast history as Daniel Worrall’s 4 over opening spell yielded 2 wickets for just 14 runs and set up a nice 162 run target for Surrey to chase.
Half centuries from Dom Sibley and Sam Curran were the highlights of a successful run chase at the Kia Oval as Surrey clinically hunted down the target with 5 wickets and 12 balls remaining.
Sibley scored 67 and Sam Curran 52 as the pair put on a fourth wicket partnership of 95 which was crucial considering the home side needed almost 10 an over halfway through their run chase.
Surrey’s captain, Chris Jordan elected to bowl first at the toss before Daniel Worrall removed Graham Clark for a four ball duck as well as cleaning up Alex Lees with an in-swinging yorker.
Ollie Robinson was also dismissed inside the first six overs when Reece Topley knocked back his middle stump with the visitors finishing the powerplay on 32 for 3.
It got even worse for Durham as Brydon Carse was caught behind from the bowling of Tom Curran before Colin Ackermann and Ashton Turner recovered the innings to 52 for 4 at the halfway mark.
Some lazy running and a sharp throw from Sam Curran led to the run out of Ackermann as Turner followed him an over later when the Australian International picked out Sibley at deep square leg.
Late order twenties from Ben Raine and Bas de Leede alongside an unbeaten 37 from Michael Jones pushed Durham up to a competitive total of 162 for 8 at the end of the first innings.
Will Jacks was first to fall in the chase when he top edged Carse into the hands of Ackermann before the South African born seamer had Laurie Evans caught by Turner at slip only balls later.
Some traditional stroke play from Sibley and Rory Burns led Surrey to a good powerplay score of 49 for 2 before Burns picked out long-on whilst attempting to take down the left arm spin of Callum Parkinson.
Four very quiet overs from Parkinson and Nathan Sowter slowed down the Surrey charge as the home side found themselves needing 93 more runs at the halfway point of the second innings.
Just when the rate was climbing, Sam Curran and Sibley both stepped on the gas with the latter bringing up his half-century by reverse-scooping Carse for a maximum over third man’s head.
Despite the pair both being dismissed after reaching their fifties, Jamie Overton cut Raine to the deep point boundary to seal a comfortably win for the home side.
