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MICT'S CURRAN FINALLY BLASTS MAIDEN T20 CENTURY
MI Cape Town all-rounder Sam Curran reminded everyone of his immense talent with a sparkling maiden T20 century for Surrey in the T20 Blast clash against Hampshire at the Oval yesterday.
Curran, who was named Player of the Tournament at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Australia two years ago, has endured a quiet time of late, but exploded on a balmy night in the south of London.
The England international smashed 102 not out (58 balls, 7x4, 6x6) at a strike-rate of 175.86.
Surrey had suffered a woeful start in pursuit of Hampshire’s 188/5, slumping to 27/3 including the loss of Pretoria Capital star Will Jacks, when Curran walked out to the middle.
After a tentative start that saw an inside-edge miss his stumps by inches before running away for a boundary, Curran found his groove. He was quick to pounce on anything short, cutting and pulling with equal power, while he was equally destructive going downtown.
“I was very aware that I hadn’t got one (a T20 century)" - Sam Curran
He was particularly severe on Sunrisers Eastern Cape left-arm spinner Liam Dawson, taking 13 runs off one over, before smashing medium-pacer Benny Howell for consecutive sixes.
Curran, who was afforded a lifeline when he was caught off a no-ball on 44, was the cornerstone of two major partnerships of 86 with Dom Sibley (27 off 24 balls) and 54 with Jamie Overton (21 off 12 balls) as Surrey inched closer towards the victory line.
It was only fitting that Curran struck the winning runs with another massive six into the stands that also brought up his three-figure milestone.
“I was very aware that I hadn’t got one (a T20 century). Obviously playing a lot of T20 cricket around the world.
“It took me a long time to get my first first-class hundred, and now a long time for the T20 one,” Curran said.
Elsewhere in the T20 Blast, Curran’s fellow MI Cape Town all-rounder Liam Livingstone joined up with Pretoria Capitals star opener Phil Salt to form a devastating partnership for Lancashire.
The pair shared a 112-run stand off just 70 balls to guide Lancashire to an emphatic eight-wicket victory over Nottinghamshire.
Salt blasted 70 off 42 balls (3x4, 5x6), while Livingstone struck 54 not out off 37 balls (3x4, 3x6).
At Chelmsford, Joburg Super Kings opener Leus du Plooy hit an unbeaten 73 from 52 balls (6x4; 3x6) for Middlesex.
Unfortunately, Du Plooy’s efforts were in vain as Middlesex lost six wickets for 39 and fell 11 runs short of Gloucester’s target.
Betway SA20 Season 2 Player of the Final Tom Abell was also in fine form for Somerset with a fine 47 not out off 34 balls (3x4; 2x6) as the Sunrisers Eastern Cape top-order batter steered the defending champions to a comfortable six-wicket over Surrey at Taunton.
Meanwhile, Derbyshire relied on JSK veteran Wayne Madsen’s workmanlike 44 off 40 balls (4x4) to keep them in contention for a playoff spot after a five-wicket victory over Worcestershire.
