Cricket Dec 07, 2025

Vitality Blast: Middlesex chase down record 253 to beat Surrey by seven wickets at The Oval

👤
By Admin
Sports Journalist
Vitality Blast: Middlesex chase down record 253 to beat Surrey by seven wickets at The Oval

Middlesex produced the biggest successful run chase in Vitality Blast history to stun Surrey with an incredible seven-wicket victory at The Oval.

Will Jacks (96) fired five sixes in an over and put on a 177-run opening stand with Laurie Evans (85) inside 13 overs, as Surrey took control after losing the toss and being put in to bat, setting Middlesex a huge target of 253.

Tom Helm, Martin Andersson and Ryan Higgins claimed two wickets each for the visitors as Surrey eventually made 252-7, their second 250+ total of the season, only for Stevie Eskinazi to get Middlesex's reply off to a strong start.

The Middlesex captain put on 90 with Joe Cracknell (36) for the first wicket before the latter was run out by Tom Curran, with Eskinazi making 73 from 39 balls before being removed by Chris Jordan.

Higgins made 48 from 24 deliveries and added 105 for the third wicket with Max Holden (68 not out) to move Middlesex to the brink of a record chase, only for Josh Blake to claim a smart catch behind the stumps to give Jordan his second wicket.

Middlesex required nine from the final over, where Jack Davies (11no) produced an incredible scoop for six off the opening delivery and fired the next for a boundary to see the visitors complete a dramatic victory with four balls to spare.

The remarkable win ends a run of 10 consecutive defeats this season for Middlesex in the South Group, while Surrey missed out on the opportunity to move above Somerset at the top of the table.

It was also the second-highest successful run chase in T20 history, six runs short of earlier this year, while the 506 runs in the contest smashes the Vitality Blast record for highest match aggregate score.

"We must have been on one of the longest losing streaks, so to pull out a performance like that is absolute magic," Eskinazi told SportNews.

"It's really special. I think the skill and the talent and determination on show tonight is something that we've known in the dressing room we have, but it's really important to show it to the rest of the country."

"It has been a phenomenally difficult time for us a group of players, managing staff and a club as a whole. The celebrations may look a bit over the top for a first win, it's more the vindication in the process that what we're doing does work."

Elsewhere, Harrison Ward struck a brutal half-century for Sussex Sharks as they eased to a seven-wicket win in a one-side contest at Gloucestershire, after Ari Karvelas (4-20) and Shadab Khan (4-27) had helped bowl out the hosts for 140.

Joe Denly joined James Vince and Luke Wright in passing 5,000 Vitality Blast runs after a breathtaking 32-ball 76 against Essex gave Kent Spitfires their fifth straight victory.

Daniel Bell-Drummond also scored an unbeaten 69 as Kent bolstered their hopes of reaching the quarter-finals with a six-wicket win in Chelmsford, while Worcestershire Rapids chased down 140 with nine balls remaining to claim a five-wicket win over Notts Outlaws.

North Group leaders Birmingham Bears put one foot in the quarter-finals after a four-run win over Yorkshire Vikings, as Dan Mousley impressed with 4-28 to limit Yorkshire to 176-8 in pursuit of 181.

There are eight more Vitality Blast matches scheduled on Friday, with Somerset's home match against Gloucestershire live from 6.25pm on SportNews Cricket, SportNews Main Event and SportNews Mix.

Tags:

cricket news id:12907977

Share this article

Related Posts

T20 World Cup: New Zealand dump hosts Sri Lanka out of tournament with crushing Super 8s victory

T20 World Cup: New Zealand dump hosts Sri Lanka out of tournament with crushing Super 8s victory

New Zealand beat Sri Lanka by 61 runs to knock the co-hosts out of the T20 World Cup and boost their own semi-final hopes.Sri Lanka failed to chase do...

The Ashes 2025/26: Brendon McCullum concedes England future in hands of others after 11-day series defeat

The Ashes 2025/26: Brendon McCullum concedes England future in hands of others after 11-day series defeat

Brendon McCullum is eager to stay on as England's head coach but admits his future is "up to other people" after losing the Ashes in just 11 days.The...

England T20 World Cup squad: Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue named in provisional group for 2026 tournament but no Jamie Smith or Brydon Carse

England T20 World Cup squad: Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue named in provisional group for 2026 tournament but no Jamie Smith or Brydon Carse

Jofra Archer has been included in England's provisional T20 World Cup squad after his Ashes-ending injury, with fellow fast bowler Josh Tongue also na...

Tributes paid to Bondi shooting victims in third Ashes Test in Adelaide as Australia captain Pat Cummins says events 'hit home pretty hard'

Tributes paid to Bondi shooting victims in third Ashes Test in Adelaide as Australia captain Pat Cummins says events 'hit home pretty hard'

Australia and England players wore black armbands during the third Ashes Test in Adelaide following Sunday's shooting at Sydney's Bondi Beach.Fifteen...

The Ashes: Australia vs England, fifth Test: Updates and reaction from series finale at Sydney Cricket Ground

The Ashes: Australia vs England, fifth Test: Updates and reaction from series finale at Sydney Cricket Ground

The 'promising' but 'controversial' results from Man Utd's financial reportsChelsea legend Terry 'frustrated' at being overlooked for Blues caretaker...

The Ashes: MCG pitch curator was in 'state of shock' and vows to learn after two-day Test between Australia and England

The Ashes: MCG pitch curator was in 'state of shock' and vows to learn after two-day Test between Australia and England

Melbourne Cricket Ground curator Matthew Page was in a "state of shock" during a Boxing Day Ashes Test at the venue which lasted just two days and has...