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Surrey booked a home quarter-final slot after defeating Kent at the Kia Oval in front of a full house of 30,000 people, with Jason Roy’s 27 ball 58 and Sam Curran’s 30 ball 50 leading a run chase in a high scoring affair that featured 25 sixes.
Surrey went into the game knowing that mathematically a point would be enough to guarantee them a home tie in next week’s quarter-finals.
The hosts won the toss and put Kent in to bat. New signing Australian Aaron Hardie was in the action straight away on his Surrey debut by taking a wicket with just his third delivery in a Surrey shirt when Joe Denly(5) mistimed a pull with the ball scooping up to mid-off.
Despite this early setback, 21 year-old Tawanda Sean Muyeye really took the eye. Playing in just his fifth T20 match he took a liking to the Surrey attack by smashing 22 runs off a Hardie over which contained three sixes.
The youngster had his right to remain in the UK approved by the Home Office in early 2021, shortly before he signed a professional contract with Kent. His family were refuges who left Zimbabwe.
An impressive knock of 41 off 29 balls including four fours and two sixes was ended when a smart piece of work from Laurie Evans at point ran him out after he was short of his ground going for a second run.
Dangerman for Kent Jordan Cox moved on to a half century, but when he made 54 he was taken in the deep by a fine catch above his shoulder from Jason Roy off the bowling of Jamie Overton.
Sunil Narine was as economical as always and in his final over got the wicket of the experienced campaigner Darren Stevens(13). However with his final five deliveries he did concede two maximums to dent his figures, eventually finishing with 1-26 off his four overs.
For Kent to post a competitive total it rested in the hands of Alex Blake. The 33-year-old finished unbeaten on 50 coming off 25 balls to guide Kent to a competitive total of 191-5 which could have been more, but for a superb last over bowled by Chris Jordan that went for only six runs.
The Surrey opening pair of Jason Roy and Will Jacks made their way to the middle with Roy quickly into his stride dispatching Denly’s opening over with a four through the covers and a maximum over deep mid-wicket.
The opening powerplay yielded 65 runs with Roy in typical destructive mode hitting a half century off only 23 balls including four fours and five sixes which included three legside maximums in one Grant Stewart over.
Roy’s batting masterclass was brought to an end when Qais Ahmad bowled the England opener for 58 coming off 27 balls including 50 in boundaries.
After the departure of Roy, Jacks(26) was stumped off the bowling of George Linde as Kent continued with spin.
Evans cameo knock of 26 came to an end when an attempted ramp shot was gobbled up by Cox to leave Surrey 129-3 in the 13th over, 63 away from victory.
A mix up between Hardie and Sam Curran led to a run out with the Australian out for 15, with Surrey 45 short of their target in the 15th over.
It was left to Sam Curran to finish the job off with a scintillating innings of 50 coming off only 30 balls including five sixes, one of which went into the third floor of the pavilion, before perishing in thee deep with four runs required to win.
Jamie Smith had the last word by hitting the winning runs, a boundary off Fred Klaassen to get Surrey over the line with nine balls remaining.
Surrey vs Kent Spitfires
Kent Spitfires 191-5 (20) Surrey 195-6 (18.3)
Surrey beat Kent by four wickets
Vitality Blast South Group Friday 1st July 2022
Peter Moore at the Kia Oval
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