The Cricketer looks at the main talking points from the T20 Blast quarter-final between Surrey and Northamptonshire at the Kia Oval
In T20 cricket, early wickets are like goldust, so to get two in the first over goes a long way to winning the match.
Well, handed the new ball in the T20 Blast quarter-final between Surrey and Northamptonshire, that's exactly what Jordan Clark did.
In helpful conditions, his first ball took Ricardo Vasconcelos' outside edge and was well-caught at first slip. Then, with the final ball of the first over, Clark forced Northamptonshire captain, David Willey, to feather an edge to wicketkeeper Ollie Pope.
It was exactly the start the hosts were after, and with the final ball of the reduced 4.1-over powerplay, they removed Tim Robinson to reduce Northants to 33 for 3.
The fact that Northants survived those three early wickets to win the game is a credit to them, helped in part by taking two early wickets of their own.
Clark returned to take his third wicket in his third over as Justin Broad reverse ramped the allrounder to short third.
Related: Northamptonshire confirm major absence for T20 Blast quarter-final
Jordan Clark struck twice in the first over of the match (Ben Hoskins/Getty Images for Surrey CCC)
Class is permanent, so they say.
Ravi Bopara was that and more during his incredible 45-ball century as he smashed Surrey around the Kia Oval.
He launched five sixes and 12 fours, including the one to bring up his third T20 century.
The most glorious, of which there were many to choose from, was when he lofted a drive over the long off boundary and deep into the Bedser Stand.
When he got into full flow, it was not just the hearty Northants faithful in the crowd that were chanting, 'Oh, Ravi Bopara'.
The 40-year-old rolled back the years and helped his team post a commanding 154 for 4 from their 14 overs.
As it proved, the knock was deservedly match-winning as Northants held their nerve at the death to win the game by just seven runs.
Related: Injury and international commitments deny Surrey of overseas trio for September run-in
Chris Jordan and Laurie Evans were awarded their County Caps (Ben Hoskins/Getty Images for Surrey CCC)
Once the rain cleared and the covers were removed, the Surrey squad assembled on the Kia Oval outfield for a cap presentation.
In the huddle, Surrey presented Laurie Evans and Chris Jordan with their county caps.
Both started their professional careers at the club and moved away to play elsewhere - Warwickshire and Sussex for Evans and just Sussex for Jordan - before returning to finish their careers.
It is unusual for these to be given out ahead of a T20 Blast game, but it represents their longevity in the game and the work they have done for the club in white-ball cricket.
The return of Ollie Pope to the side meant Evans was relieved of his wicketkeeping duties, a role he has inadvertently taken on both in the Blast and The Hundred this season.
Chris Jordan, who missed part of The Hundred with a groin injury, was involved on the first ball as he puched a slip catch to remove Ricardo Vasconcelos.
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