As it happened: Essex Eagles defeat Surrey by 52 runs – Vitality T20 Blast

Essex Eagles crushed Surrey by 52 runs in a rain-affected Vitality T20 Blast fixture in which Cameron Delport’s excellent 129 set a new Essex record.

The Chelmsford crowd deserved an entertaining show after being forced to wait over an hour before eventually seeing some cricket; that was exactly what they received upon play’s begin.

Essex opener Cameron Delport sent the Eagles soaring towards a huge total as he struck an astonishing 129 from only 49 balls. The British-South African sent a barrage of sixes into the crowd, eventually ending his innings with fourteen boundaries after being caught in long-on by Jade Dernbach, and rewrote Essex Cricket history as he claimed the fastest ever century in T20 cricket for the Eagles.

However, the Eagles’ overseas signing was not the only one sending the Chelmsford crowd to cover as Dan Lawrence scored an unbeaten 57 from 22 balls, including six sixes and two fours as he reached a half-century from just seventeen deliveries.

Will Jacks put up an early fight for Surrey as he sent Shane Snater’s bowling for four successive fours and then delivered Matt Quinn’s first two bowls for six; but, in the same over, Ravi Bopara took the all-important wicket, catching Jacks at mid-wicket. It proved to be the first of three wickets in four deliveries as Surrey suddenly found themselves at 32 for four.

Rory Burns and Jordan Clark also fought for the impossible, scoring 47* and 45 respectively, but it was too big a mountain for the visitors as their innings closed on 174 for seven.

Read through the live updates below as our reporter, Matt Lee, provided coverage from the Cloudfm County Ground of Essex’s emphatic victory.