Sam and Tom Curran thrash through their 50s as Surrey destroys Middlesex

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Sam Curran led his team with 68 scores from 47 balls

Sam and Tom Curran put Middlesex’s bowlers to the test as Surrey defeated Middlesex in the T20 Blast London derby at Lord’s by 77 runs.

Sam took out his wrath on the Seaxes with 68 off 47 balls, including two massive sixes in Surrey’s total of 199 for 6. Sam had hurried back to London from an unsuccessful stay with Punjab Kings at the IPL. 

With 50 off 33 balls and eight fours as the twins added 118 in 11 overs, Tom, who is currently playing under a white-ball only deal, was if anything even more obnoxious. Before that, Will Jacks fired a quickfire 43.

Tom Helm finished with 3 for 38 thanks to three wickets in his final over, and Nathan Fernandes, a left-arm spinner, made his debut with 1 for 27 from three overs.

After that, Jacks shone with the bat, returning 3 for 17, and Gus Atkinson followed with 3 for 20, as the hosts could muster only 126 in response despite Max Holden’s defiant striking and top score of 43.

Jacks, who had scored two thrilling half-centuries in his previous three matches at Lord’s against Middlesex in this format, came out swinging from the opening delivery. While he played and missed on a few occasions, the England player took a heavy toll on a full toss from Helm, hammering it back past the bowler for four.

Teenager Fernandes, who was sent on for the powerplay, hit second ball when pinch-hitter Sunil Narine hit him straight to cover, but Jacks sent leg spinner Luke Hollman’s two drag-downs into the seats, and his celebration was put to an end by Helm’s outstanding catch on the fence at long-on.

The Currans’ progress was steady at first, but Ryan Higgins’ 12th over, in which Tom Curran blasted the all-rounder to all parts by hitting five consecutive fours, completely changed the situation. Sam Curran, not to be outdone, then let free, destroying Fernandes’ stellar numbers up to that point with successive sixes.

Blake Cullen, who had not played for Middlesex’s first team in over a year, was rusty, and his 11-ball over, which featured a waist-high full toss and four wides, only helped Surrey gain the upper hand.

By the time Tom top-edged a steepling catch back to the appreciative bowler Higgins, the 100-stand had been reached in 56 balls and we were in the penultimate over. As the south Londoners came in one short of 200, Sam too left before the finish line.

For Middlesex, the captain Stephen Eskinazi was heavily relied upon, but he was run out for just one run after a mix-up with the fourth ball of the innings.

The thrilling Both of the openers were gone with 27 on the board when Joe Cracknell successfully placed a short pitch from Sean Abbot into the second tier of the Mound Stand before dying while attempting to repeat the feat.

Pieter Malan, who had returned from injury, also found the stands before being bowled around the legs by Atkinson for a brisk 30. Jacks then struck twice in his first over, removing the dangerous Higgins and bowling Hollman.

Holden had heroically batted during this time, smashing two massive sixes at a strike rate close to 200, but the game was over when Narine bowled him for 43.

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