Vitality Blast: Surrey and Sussex boost South Group chances

Aaron Finch returned to the Vitality Blast in style while Sussex Sharks continued to set down the marker to other teams

Surrey 222/4 beat Essex Eagles 183/7 by 39 runs
Hampshire 158/7 lost to Sussex Sharks 161/2 by 8 wickets

GOLD FINCH
A little over a week after smashing a colossal 172 against Zimbabwe, the highest individual T20 score, Aaron Finch was back at Surrey and sending the ball to all parts. A sledgehammer in human form, Finch blasted 58 in total to give his Vitality Blast side a blistering start. Ben Foakes (56) and Rikki Clarke (48 not out) then took over and walloped Surrey to an imposing 222/4.

THE BRIGG BANG THEORY
He may not be the first name that leaps out of the Sussex line-up when inspecting their bowling options, but Danny Briggs is underestimated at your peril. Alongside spinning sensational Rashid Khan and the pace pack of Jofra Archer, Chris Jordan, David Weise and Ollie Robinson, Briggs is a camomile tea in a bar of energy drinks and exotic cocktails. What he does have is wit and a frustrating ability to work batsmen out very quickly though. Coming on as the sixth bowling option, he demonstrated his ability from the off, taking three top-order wickets from his four overs. He wasn't the only one to shine however, as Archer showed off his ever-impressive bowling to take three wickets of his own, including the important intervention of dismissing James Vince.

GARETH BALES SURREY OUT
Having set Essex a mighty 223 to win, Surrey would've started to get nervous as the Eagles soared to 100/1 at the halfway point. Then up stepped the snarling former captain Gareth Batty to change the course of the match. Two wickets in his first over - removing Tom Westley and Ravi Bopara - was quickly followed with a third dismissal in his next set of six, Essex skipper Ryan ten Doeschate the victim of a tight caught behind judgement. There was no way back for the visitors, who eventually fell 39 runs short.

LAURIE ABOUT THAT
You may not have seen but Laurie Evans has struck three consecutive half-centuries in the Vitality Blast. It's obviously early days in the tournament but in a team setting the early tempo for the rest of the competition, he must feel pretty confident there will be a lot more added to the 181-run total already clocked up. Indeed, he currently sits second in the most runs list. His latest score, 55, saw him guide Sussex Sharks to an eight-wicket victory, their third win out of three matches.

CROWD FUNDING
And finally, congratulations to this man in the Kia Oval crowd, who took a blinding catch off an Aaron Finch maximum and received a well-earned prize as a reward.