Surrey Vitality T20 Blast Final at Edgbaston Win REPORT

 

CHRISTIAN & DUCKETT LEAD THE WAY AS OUTLAWS STEAMROLLER SURREY

With the luxury of two overseas players and a well stocked batting arsenal it was clear from the Tournament outset that Notts were clear favourites to win the Blast, this despite the late withdrawal of the experienced death bowler Harry Gurney. With Luke Fletcher struggling with a side strain it was left to Ball and Christian to bowl the death overs in most of the competition and they did that superbly once again in the Final. The Final which started at 19:15 was a 16 over affair. Amazingly Surrey failed find the ropes with their last 29 balls of the innings scoring just 18 runs as they dramatically collapsed against the mercurial Christian (3-0-23-4). Jason Roy was dropped on 2 low down at short mid wicket by Peter Trego who was making his T20 debut for Notts in place of Nash who had damaged his knee ligaments. Notts paid for the drop catch as Roy (66) and Evans (43) added 90 for the third wicket in 8.4 overs to put Surrey on top. Roy departed leg before to the superb Jake Ball as Surrey closed on a below par 127 for seven off their 16 overs. Notts innings got off to a dreadful start as they stood at 19 for three off 3.3 overs with Hales, Clarke and the promoted Patel all dismissed. The vastly experienced Trego came in and played the perfect cameo speeding to 31 off 21 balls (5x4,1x6) and adding 63 for the fourth wicket in 5.3 overs with Ben Duckett. Duckett a much matured batsman this season exorcised his 2019 semi-final demons with 53 not out from 38 balls (8x4) as the Captain, man of the match, once again, joined him to add the final 47 runs in 4.2 overs as Notts got home by six wickets with16 balls to spare, Surrey who had won their previous nine games were found wanting at the final hurdle, aiding Notts cause by bowling six wides and three no balls.

Notts won the toss and elected to bowl. Trego came in Nash who had damaged ligaments in his knee. Patel conceded one run off the first over bowled from the Pavilion End. Amla and Roy survived a run out both being stranded mid pitch as Mullaney missed the stumps. Roy was dropped low down on 2 at short mid wicket by Trego off Ball, six off the over. Roy hit consecutive boundaries off Imad, 16 for 0 off three overs.

Amla (3) should have stumped Moores but fell next ball caught at mid on by Christian off Patel, 18 for one. Three off the over. A slower delivery from Ball removed Jacks (3) who skied to Christian running back from mid on, 24 for two off 4.5 overs which was the end of the power play.

Surrey fought back well. Roy carved Carter behind square to the boundary ropes, eight off the over. Roy smashed Patel for four and then two balls later Evans hit him to the mid wicket ropes, 10 off the over. Evans hit Mullaney through the covers for four, Roy repeated the shot two balls later, 13 off the over. Roy pulled Imad to the mid wicket ropes. Evans pulled the Pakistani for six just over Hales head on the mid wicket ropes, another 13 runs had been conceded. Evans swept Carter for four, 11 off the over. Roy hit Christian for six over mid wicket, 12 off the over. Evans hit Patel (4-0-25-1) for six over mid -wicket, 11 off the over. Imad conceded eight off the 13th over, 111 for two. A slower ball from Christian finally removed Laurie Evans (43 off 23 balls,3x4, 2x6) caught by Duckett, 114 for three. Overton fell for a duck brilliantly caught right handed above his head by Moores, the ball coming at him very quickly, a second wicket for Christian, 115 for four, five off the over. Roy was plumb leg before for 66 (7x4,1x6), 119 for five. Ball (3-0-17-2) conceded five off his third over. Foakes (1) lofted Christian to Duckett at cow corner who took an easycatch, 122 for six. Off the last ball, Christian (3-0-23-4) had Plunkett caught at long on by Hales, 127 for seven off 16 overs. Christian figures were a Notts best, his previous best Notts analysis was 3-18 at New Road in 2017.

Hales fell to the first ball of the reply pulling a short ball from Topley (Pavilion End) to Evans at deep square leg who took the catch at the second attempt. Two off the over. Clarke (3) perished sweeping Jacks to Overton at square leg, 4 for two. Duckett swept Jacks for 4, six off the over. Duckett drove Topley for four through extra cover, five off the over. Patel was dropped on 1 by Burns at long on off Jacks, a sitter. Patel hit the next ball to the point ropes. But Patel (7) fell to the very next ball this time Burns taking the catch on the mid wicket ropes, 19 for three. A stupid shot trying to hit a six over the longest boundary. Duckett hit Jacks for four over mid wicket. Trego swept Moriarty for six over square leg.. Notts 32 for three off 4.5 overs at the end of the power play. Duckett reverse swept Jacks for four and Trego clubbed him for four over mid wicket, 15 off the over. Notts 47 for three off six overs and fighting back.

Plunkett bowled successive no balls with Duckett hitting the free hit for four, 14 off the seventh over. Overton offered Trego width, the ball going to backward point ropes. Trego hit Overton for four through fine leg and four through backward point, 16 off the over. Dan Moriarty returned and Trego hit him for four through point., but a quicker ball saw the slow left armer Moriarty get Trego (31 off 21 balls) leg before, 82 for four off nine overs. Duckett pulled Batty for four through mid wicket, eight off the over. A slower full toss from Moriarty was hit for a four through mid wicket by Christian, eight off the over. Batty conceded five off the 12th over. Christian reached a wide ball from Topley and hit him for four through wide third man. Christian hit Topley for a leg side four, 18 off the over as the Surrey heads had dropped. Duckett hit successive fours off Gareth Batty through long on to win the game for Notts. Notts 129 for 4 off 13.2 overs with Duckett on 53 and Christian on 21 had won the game convincing. 

Apart from the two blips against Leicestershire, Notts had steamrollered all the opposition put in front of them and this was a much deserved triumph. Duckett, much more mobile in the field and Clarke were prominent this season and put their indifferent 2019 seasons behind them. Moores revelled in the mid order and the bowling unit bowled well throughout. Ball, a much improved bowler this season was the tournament leading wicket taking with 19 victims and bowled consistently well at the death. 

Captain Dan Christian showed his commitment to the club by willing to put himself through two week quarantine both before and after the competition and had his best season with the ball with nine wickets @30.88 (7.94 RPO), he is clearly respected by his colleagues and this produced excellent team spirit. With the spin trio of Imad Wasim, Patel and Carter bowling consistently, it meant the opposition were incapable of making commanding totals.

In this strangest of seasons who would have predicted Notts winning a trophy just before 10 o clock on a Sunday evening in early October in front of an empty 25,000 seater stadium, well done all!

MAG