Kia Oval Talking Points: Reece Topley's return, Mitchell Santner's brilliance and belated Kia catch

The Cricketer looks at the main talking points from the Men's T20 Blast match between Surrey and Sussex at the Kia Oval

The Cricketer | 18/06/2025 at 22:30

Movement That Inspires play of the day

The return of Reece Topley is welcome to any team; his height, left-arm angle, and pace make him a unique asset.

When you factor in an injury record that has so often robbed him of the chance to play cricket, it was a joy to see Topley in full flow against Sussex at the Kia Oval.

This is just his second match back at his county since a stint at the IPL with Mumbai Indians, in which he featured just once, and he backed up his 2 for 24 against Hampshire last night with 3 for 34 against Sussex tonight.

The fact that he came through the back-to-back matches unscathed is a positive sign in itself, but the ability with which he bowled will, undoubtedly, catch the attention of England selectors.

He was in the squad as recently as this winter when the team went to the Caribbean, before injury curtailed that trip, and his unique skillset means that his subsequent non-selection means very little if England require a point of difference in white-ball cricket.

For now, he can look forward to calling the Kia Oval home again with one match against Middlesex on Friday (June 20) before a two-week County Championship break.

jacksw180602

^{It took the Kia Oval crowd six attempts to take a catch in the crowd as a gentleman earned £1,000 (Ben Hoskins/Getty Images for Surrey CCC)}

Take The Lead, Drive Electric moment of the day

It is a great shame for Surrey and their fans that there is just one match left of Mitchell Santner's initial eight-game T20 Blast stint at the club.

The New Zealand white-ball captain was signed just for the first block of matches, but with 10 wickets in just five matches after a late arrival, he had impressed.

Tonight was no different as he bowled with his guile and craft to take 3 for 26 from his four overs.

Contrary to popular T20 beliefs, the left-arm spinner was employed to break the partnership between two left-handers, and he did just that to remove Tom Clark (45). Then he removed the other member of that partnership, John Simpson (21), before bowling a quicker ball to trap fellow spinner Jack Carson in front for 12.

The good news for the Surrey faithful is that if the team make the knockout stages of the competition, then he will return and his stint has already gone a long way to help make that happen. After seven matches, Surrey are top of the South Group with five wins.

santner090601

^{Mitchell Santner was characteristically excellent during his four-over spell against Surrey (Steve Bardens/Getty Images for Surrey CCC)}

Specators made to wait for Kia Catch

At the Kia Oval, fans are offered a chance to win £1,000 if they catch a six during the match.

Since the competition's inception, there have been many stunners and some calamitous missed opportunities.

Well, in Surrey's innings, they were given countless chances and none were taken. In the first half of the innings alone, there were five dropped catches in the crowd.

Opener Will Jacks launched four into the stands and captain Sam Curran added another, which all picked out spectators, but none were taken as the South London faithful let £5,000 slip through their fingers.

The crowd did eventually kick into gear when a gentleman in the stands grabbed hold of one to end the 13th over of Sussex's chase when Danny Lamb (49) struck a rare six off Santner.

This report was brought to you in association with Kia – to find out more about why Kia is a leader in electrification, visit www.kia.com