Ollie Pope scored his maiden half-century in this year’s T20 Blast as Surrey beat Middlesex in a one-sided South Group derby at The Oval.
Pope, who remained unbeaten on 51 off 33 balls, shared a second-wicket stand of 74 off 44 with Jason Roy (46) as they did their bit to get Surrey’s T20 campaign back on track after consecutive defeats.
Earlier, Surrey’s fast bowlers always looked on top and restricted their city rivals to a modest score of 130-7, with Reece Topley (1-21) and Sean Abbott (2-16) leading the way.
Middlesex all-rounder Luke Hollman top-scored with 31 not out from 29 balls in defeat for the second consecutive game as Surrey won for the 12th time in 14 Blast meetings between the two sides.
Although predictions of rain never actually came true, Sam Curran put the visitors first after winning the toss and were rewarded as their bowlers conceded very few runs, reducing Middlesex to 54–5.
With four wickets falling in 25 balls, Max Holden was bowled by Jordan Clarke, although Adam Rossington (20) managed to clear the fence twice in the powerplay before dismissing Topley at mid-on.
Former Surrey batsman Ben Geddes – who was out for a duck on his return to the field in the Blast last year – was run out on one run this time, while Josh de Cares was unlucky and failed to pull the ball onto his stumps off Abbott.
Lewis du Plooy edged Clarke (2-31) to mid-on, despite a courageous partnership of 47 from 39 by Holman and Ryan Higgins (27), Middlesex’s chances of posting a competitive score were looking bleak.
Holding on to his luck from time to time, Hollman hit some valuable hits and, although Sebastian Morgan edged Tom Curran’s final ball over cover for four runs, the visitors’ total never looked like enough.
Will Jacks, having survived a chance to be caught low and bowled by Noah Cornwell in the first over, provided a solid base to finish with 24 from 17 before Tom Helm (1-25) edged one out to hit the top of the stumps.
But Roy pushed Ethan Bosch to the third man boundary at the end of the powerplay to take Surrey past 50 and, with the absence of scoreboard pressure, he and Pope were able to be selective with their shots.
Roy missed his first half-century of the tournament, spearing Cornwall at mid-on, but Pope stepped up quickly and hit Morgan for two sixes down the leg side and then completed his half-century with a four and sealed the win.