NatWest T20 Blast, Kia Oval, Surrey 144-7 (16.3 overs) beat Worcestershire Rapids 141-9 (20 overs) by three wickets
To The Oval! …on Saturday afroyternoon for the final T20 fling of the season in South London. A quarter-finals match against Worcestershire ‘Rapids’ [what?] was the last remaining hurdle for the ‘rrey if they were to reach Finals Day once again.
It was a little weird walking towards The Oval for a T20 slog on a Saturday afternoon. The Friday night rhythm of these matches was missing. So was the post-work piss up crowd.
A lone tout cut an isolated figure as he tried to work the Harleyford Road patch. The lack of queues at the Surrey ticket office suggested that Saturday afternoons aren’t prime time T20 action in South London.
This all led to a far more relaxed atmosphere. The pavilion was still packed with Members, but there was room around the old ground to take in the T20 experience at a more leisurely pace.
We got a shifty on once inside the pavilion. Mr. Octopus, the corporate sponsorship man dressed in a silly costume, was attempting to walk up the main staircase, eight legs et al.
The TEN! NINE! EIGHT! …countdown is equally ridiculous. When the match finally started, the ‘rrey were fielding. No surprises to see KP on boundary duty, strategically positioned right in the front of the press pack.
The Fountain of Booze started to flow right from the off. This isn’t a reference to my own slow start on the post-luncheon slump, but the now predictable spilling of a pint from the seats above that then trickles down the rest of the terrace.
I confess to knowing bugger all about Worcestershire. Give me a specialist subject of Hampshire / Sussex / Essex etc and I’m yer man. All of this regional zonal cricket nonsense makes for any knowledge outside of your patch a little tough.
The away team looked a little stranded on 58-3, a disappointingly slow start for what should have been a make or break match.
Matt Dunn was pumped up for the ‘rrey taking 2 for 28. KP was left practicing his golf swing on the boundary.
A few fumbles in the field later and some of Members took a less than favourable show of appreciation for KP. I kept quiet, knowing that In Kev We Trust.
In return I got a KP death stare as he eyeballed the lower tier of the pavilion.
A bizarre dance off between Mr. Octopus and the Surrey Lion characterised the interval. I was still relatively sober, but this was just plain silly.
The run chase of 141 set by the Rapids was never in any doubt. Jason Roy set up the Surrey innings with a spectacular 52 off 23 balls. The rest of the team followed at a sedate pace that matched the Saturday afternoon T20 comedown.
And so another Finals Day appearance in a couple of weeks.
C’mon the ‘rrey!