The Cricketer picks out some important talking points as Surrey beat Hampshire Hawks
Surrey were chasing a few batting records heading into the final three overs of their innings, but they were held back by Nathan Ellis who produced a fine display at the death as the ball flew to all parts.
While the home crowd were undoubtedly entertained by the fireworks from Laurie Evans and Sunil Narine, there was an equally impressive showing from Hants' overseas quick who stood up to the big-hitting and fired back.
Ellis is an upright quick with plenty of discipline and lots of skill. Though wides came from his first two balls he soon got his wide yorker spot on, frustrating Narine and conceding just two runs from the remainder of the over.
And though two boundaries came from Kieron Pollard in the 20th over, the 14 conceded looked like a respectable outcome given the opponent and the carnage that had come before. Surrey roared to their highest T20 score at the Kia Oval but it might have been embarrassing had it not been for Ellis.
Nathan Ellis held Surrey back in the chase (Alex Davidson/Getty Images)
The June sun was almost bouncing off the new, unused pitch at the Kia Oval such was the colour of the strip used at the Kia Oval. It looked like a cracker that would surely allow both sides to find some form, after some dodgy batting performances in the early games.
So it looked like a brave move from left-arm spinner Liam Dawson to take the new ball for the first time this season against the Surrey openers.
Having seen Surrey throw the bat at everything against Gloucestershire and be bowled out for 129 in 50 overs, Dawson, the Hampshire captain on the night in the absence of the unwell James Vince, saw an opportunity to land a decisive, early blow.
Roy has become a far more selective powerplay batter these days and has spent significant time trying to improve against left-arm spin. Indeed he spent plenty of time facing Dawson in the nets during the T20 World Cup.
That work was evident when he struck 61 off 38 balls in the victory over Bangladesh during that tournament, seeing off Shakib Al Hasan and Nasum Ahmed with aplomb.
It would be Dawson who got the better of this particular encounter. His third delivery, an arm ball coming into Roy, did a little off the surface and crashed into his off-stump. Roy played an ugly hack, failing to make contact, and trudged off knowing he'd been out-thought by his England colleague.
The West Indies legend will go past 600 T20s during his T20 Blast spell at Surrey and as a big-hitting finisher, a canny bowler and an inspiring leader his legacy is firmly cemented.
But it is easy to forget about the spectacular presence has been in the field. Think the full-length diving catch to dismiss Shane Watson in the Big Bash League or the grab to get Mahela Jayawardene in the Caribbean Premier League.
The former led to Pollard sprinting in celebration towards the boundary with his Barbados Tridents teammates trailing in his wake.
Via the second ball of the Hampshire reply, we got a reminder of his class, as he leapt to his left, stuck out a paw, held on, and then pointed to the sky in celebration. It was arguably the highlight on a showreel night at the Kia Oval.
Sam Curran's spell ultimately decided the contest (Ben Hoskins/Getty Images)
Sam Curran endured a rotten winter, missing the biggest events and spending more spells on the Sky Sports sofa than with the ball.
After an excellent start with the bat in the LV= Insurance County Championship, he had made tentative steps back with the ball and took 4 for 14 in victory over Gloucestershire on Tuesday (May 31).
Curran, whose batting form continued with a punchy 69 off 38 balls, shipped 16 in his first over, as Tom Prest helped Hampshire into a lead, albeit a brief one, in the chase.
Adding to his reputation as a genuine match-winner in this format, his comeback virtually decided the contest.
First, he bowled Prest around his legs as he shuffled across his stumps but failed to make contact.
The key wicket of McDermott would follow, delivering a ball in the block hole that the Australian dug out but straight into the hands of Reece Topley.
And the over was completed by the dismissal of Aneurin Donald, who took a ball to get his eye in before sending up a catch for Chris Jordan.
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