Surrey lost to Sussex by 70 runs in the semi-final of the Women’s Vitality T20 Blast Group 6 Finals Day at Totton and Eling CC.
Sussex, who had finished top of the group stage after winning five of six matches, produced a dominant performance to overcome Surrey and then carried that form into the final, where they defeated Kent to lift the trophy.
Having won the toss, Surrey skipper Aylish Cranstone elected to field and there was early promise as Alice Capsey dismissed Ella Mccaughan for 3, caught by Dani Gregory, and Charlotte Lambert clean bowled Georgia Elwiss to leave Sussex 21/2. However, a stand of 60 between Georgia Adams (57 off 36) and Paige Schofield (30 off 27) got their side back on track.
Capsey grabbed her second to dismiss Adams, Amy Gordon taking the catch, but Freya Kemp kept up the momentum with a quick-fire 53* from 27 deliveries to propel Sussex to 170/5 from their 20 overs.
It was always going to be a challenging target and Surrey’s task became even more difficult when Gordon and Capsey were both dismissed by Chiara Green in the second over.
Sussex turned the screw with some disciplined bowling, Kemp removing Kira Chathli and Rhianna Southby in quick succession before Schofield claimed the key wicket of Cranstone, the captain falling for 14.
Maddie Blinkhorn-Jones offered some spirited resistance, top-scoring with 19, but Elwiss nipped in with two wickets to end any hopes of a fightback, Surrey eventually all out for 100 in the 18th over.
Sussex then capped their impressive day by defeating Kent by four wickets in the final.
Click here for the full scorecard of the Surrey v Sussex match.
