Eoin Morgan upstages AB de Villiers and Aaron Finch as cricket's premier gunslingers are eclipsed

NICK HOWSON AT LORD'S: The England captain smashes a six-laden 70 as Middlesex beat Surrey - in just his third match since the World Cup success

Lord's: Middlesex 210-8, Surrey 146 - Middlesex won by 64 runs

Scorecard

"This town ain't big enough for the both of us."

Owen Wister's 1902 novel The Virginian: A Horseman of the Plains is cited as the first mention of one of Western cinema's most coined phrases. Originally used in the midst of the likes of John Wayne and Clint Eastwood, it would generally pre-empt a duel between two boisterous gunslingers.

It was a quote which could be used fittingly in anticipation of a collision between two of world cricket's premier monsters in the rather humble surroundings of the T20 Blast. Such was the billing AB de Villiers and Aaron Finch had been given prior to the second London derby of the 2019 season, you could have been forgiven for thinking the clash would merely be a one-on-one shooting match.

Fresh from a less-than-vintage Indian Premier League, De Villiers has found his grove almost immediately in England. For Royal Challengers Bangalore he had been accused of being too proactive in going after bowlers, and being unable to bide his time. Perhaps that was the lack of pace on the ball or the sheer pressure which comes with playing cricket in India.

But two unbeaten scores of 88 for Middlesex have acted as evidence that the former South Africa batsman has rediscovered his mojo. Furthermore, De Villiers has been on the charm offence off-the-field, even finding time to hail the imminent introduction of The Hundred. Who would have thought it?

^{AB de Villiers showed flashes of his virtuoso best}

De Villiers combined a greater deal of thought with the same brutality and skill which has been the dominant theme of his career. He danced around the crease as if bullets were being shot at his feet. His 64 included five fours and one six and though he did succumb to Tom Curran there was an effortlessness which each of Middlesex's remaining South Group opponents should be concerned about.

Memories of the manner in which Finch had dispatched tonight's opponents in last year's clash at The Oval were fresh in the memory. On that particular night, the Australia batsman hit 117 from 52 balls. They're still looking for some of the balls he hit into the out-reaches of south London.

It is important to note that while De Villiers is here largely by choice, Finch would much prefer to be warming up for a second Ashes Test in Worcester. This is not the August Lord's sell-out he will have had in mind.

And after failing to guide Australia to World Cup glory, this is Finch's last opportunity to leave England with a tangible result behind him.

Initially, there is little doubt Finch settled quicker. It takes seven deliveries for Finch to strike the first boundary and indeed he smashes four in a row off Tom Helm's first over. Three sixes follow, including a ridiculous hit through the long mid-wicket boundary which is almost for show.

^{Aaron Finch hit 47 but is dismissal signalled Surrey's downfall}

But then much like De Villiers, then comes the anti-climatic ending. Nathan Sowter pushes a legbreak through, Finch is befuddled and John Simpson drops the ball onto his stumps. Never mind the episode being fitting of the Sunday league, it would have looked out of place after a few beers in your back garden.

It was fitting that on just his second outing at the home of cricket since the World Cup final that Eoin Morgan eclipsed both of the illustrious pair. The England captain's 70 was brilliantly brutal, dismissing Imran Tahir for six on three occasions before Jade Dernbach was dispatched for a maximum with a flat strike through midwicket.

In the three-and-a-half weeks since the victory over New Zealand (don't @ me), this was just Morgan's third evening of competitive cricket. Amid all the talk of scheduling and the intensity of the summer, it is little surprise that some time away from the game has allowed Morgan to produce a glimpse of his best form. Food for thought.

As the night sky fell a deeper shade of blue it was Surrey who fired the blanks. The visitors looked good to chase down 211 but lost eight for 29 thanks to a Steven Finn 5-16, as the English feel-good factor continued. Perhaps that can be harnessed in a week's time.

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