Sam Curran’s career-best unbeaten 102 saw South Group leaders Surrey to a five-wicket win over eliminated Hampshire to guarantee themselves a home quarter-final. With 27 fours and 14 sixes struck throughout the entertaining Sustainabili-T20 at The Kia Oval, Surrey will be planting 192 trees.
The England all-rounder clubbed six 6s and seven 4s in a stay of 58 balls, reaching his century with the winning hit, as the hosts chased down a target of 184 with 5 balls to spare.
Curran, caught off a no-ball on 44, shared stands of 86 with Dominic Sibley (27) and 54 with Jamie Overton (21). John Turner returned 2-30 for the visitors.
Hampshire’s 183 was built around a career-best 66 from Toby Albert, his first half-century in the format. Jordan Clark’s 3-24 kept the target within bounds while there were also two wickets for Matt Dunn in his first game, other than One-Day Cup appearances, for three years.
The 2022 winners Hampshire, already out of this year’s Blast, adopted an aggressive approach after being put in, but Albert apart, couldn’t capitalize on positive starts.
Australian Ben McDermott, hit Dunn for the game’s first six, only to find the hands of Jamie Overton on the boundary later in the over.
Dunn also accounted for Tom Prest, while James Vince threatened briefly with five boundaries including a majestic six off Curran before being undone by a beauty from Clark which jagged back and crashed into his stumps. When Joe Weatherley perished early the Hawks were 65-4.
Albert had begun explosively, twice clearing the ropes to race to 30. Benny Howell however continued the trend of a big hit and out, and James Fuller was the second batter castled by Clark, playing around an excellently delivered slower one.
Liam Dawson sparkled momentarily until sacrificing himself after a mix-up in running and it needed a cool head coupled with late acceleration from Albert to get Hampshire to a creditable 183.
Deprived of their two leading scorers in the competition this season, Ollie Pope and Jamie Smith away on Test duty, the hosts needed others to stick their hand up for the chase.
Will Jacks smote the first ball from Brad Wheal for six, but the bowler’s revenge was swift as he holed out to the next delivery and Wheal struck again in his following over to remove Laurie Evans.
John Turner cranked up the pressure on the home batters with two hostile overs, but it was England U19 Eddie Jack who removed Rory Burns courtesy of a stunning catch by Prest, leaving Surrey at 27-3.
Curran planted Dawson over wide mid-on for six and having got the taste, hit Howell for successive maximums in the following over.
More drama with Turner holding on to a steepling top edge only for the umpire to signal no-ball, Fuller out of luck.
Reprieved, Curran survived the loss of Dominic Sibley to reach 50 in 34 balls, before surpassing his previous career-best in the format helped by a fourth six.
Jamie Overton caught the mood with successive sixes of Jack and though he departed before the end, Curran’s pyrotechnics saw Surrey home.
Sam Curran reflects on his maiden T20 century! 💯🗣️
— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) July 18, 2024
🤎 | #SurreyCricket pic.twitter.com/JwXTctnxQM
