Ravi Bopara delivered a masterclass in T20 cricket with a breathtaking 45-ball century that guided Northamptonshire to a seven-run victory over Surrey in the Vitality Blast quarter-final at The Kia Oval. This match, reduced to 14 overs per side due to persistent rain, saw Bopara's innings of 105 not out off 46 balls, including 12 fours and 5 sixes, become the cornerstone of Northants' total of 154-4.

Match Highlights

• Bopara's Heroics: Coming in at number three after the early dismissal of opener Ricardo Vasconcelos, Bopara steadied the ship and then accelerated brilliantly. His century, the third of his T20 career, was completed with a boundary off the penultimate ball of the innings.
• Surrey's Chase: Despite a valiant 69 not out from captain Sam Curran and a solid 41 from Ollie Pope, Surrey fell short, finishing at 147-6. Regular wickets and some tight bowling from Northants, particularly from George Scrimshaw (3-34), kept the pressure on.
• Weather Impact: The match started one hour and 20 minutes late due to rain, and the wet outfield made fielding conditions challenging.

Key Performances

• Northants' Bowling: George Scrimshaw was the pick of the bowlers with three crucial wickets, while Ben Sanderson and David Willey delivered tight spells in the death overs.
• Surrey's Bowling: Jordan Clark (3-13) was the standout bowler for Surrey, but the rest of the attack struggled to contain Bopara's onslaught.

What’s Next?

Northants will now head to Finals Day at Edgbaston on 13 September, marking their first appearance since their last triumph in 2016. Surrey, despite finishing top of the South Group, missed out on a third consecutive Finals Day appearance.

Conclusion

Ravi Bopara's innings was a reminder of his class and experience in the shortest format of the game. His ability to perform under pressure and against a strong Surrey lineup was pivotal in Northants' progression to the semi-finals. Cricket fans will be eagerly anticipating the next chapter in this thrilling T20 Blast season.