The hit and giggle returns after a rather weird Championship scheduling break. It’s no wonder cricketers don’t know if they are Arthur or Martha when one week they are playing red ball cricket, and the next they have to switch to white ball.
It’s not so much of an issue for Surrey as they strutted along down to the south coast to take on the Sussex Sharks. Our Blast team is pretty much a who’s who of franchise cricket. It’s just a shame that that who’s who is more like a 2016 edition than 2026.
Yes, we’ve had our woes in the Championship this season. We’re actually in serious risk of being dragged into a relegation battle.
There was hope that the Blast might offer a pleasant distraction. We always do well in this competition, right? Not really. That’s just the narrative mainstream media likes to put over. We’ve only won the bloody thing once - and that was during the first season.
The pitch down at Hove looked an absolute belter. Sussex were relentless in their opening few overs. Young Sam Curran, who isn’t that young anymore, was incredibly expensive being hit all around the park.
His brother Tom fared little better.
You have to add in the disclaimer here with any game of cricket that you can’t judge a pitch until both sides have batted. But the way Sussex went about demolishing the Surrey attack was very ominous as balls were knocked towards the umbrellas of the corporate hospitality.
Dan Lawrence made the breakthrough for Surrey, finally taking the wicket of Ward. Spin it to win it, etc. Who knew?
Tom Lawes took out Hughes very cheaply for a well-deserved 45. It had looked as though both Sussex openers were on for a century. Shout out Chris Jordan, who took an easy catch back on his old ground.
Lawrence struck again, taking the wicket of Coles. From 94 without loss Sussex were down to 104 for 3. Game on?
Lawes took the wicket of Carter, sending furniture all over the Hove ground. Carter walked for two, thanks for coming, etc.
It was at this time in the evening that I really should have switched over and watched the Test Match highlights, but England are such a fuck-up right now. I’m always a club over country man, be it cricket, football, erm, basketball.
Meanwhile Mark Church singing The Thompson Twins' Hold Me Now wasn’t something I was expecting on the Sussex feed as part of my evening of entertainment.
It was also that time of the evening when the BOOZE kicked in. A Crap Match Report with zero tactical analysis reverted to form. All I can observe is that the Surrey franchise superstars weren’t exactly involved as some of the Sussex wickets started to tumble.
Somehow Sussex found themselves at 77 for nine after the eighth over. This was something of a remarkable turnaround for Surrey. It was a belter of a surface and the non-Surrey stars making the most of it.
Attention drifted, booze continued, the heat back at home in front of the hit and miss Sussex YT stream distracted me slightly. Meanwhile, Surrey made light work of polishing off what in the end was a lame run chase.
This was mainly thanks to new Aussie overseas signing, Josh Philippe, with a fantastic fifty on debut. He was handed his prestigious Surrey cap, even before he had faced his first ball. I don’t think I was alone in thinking this was something of a nervy moment. But he delivered, and in some style as well.
And so Surrey’s stop/start Blast campaign continues. An appearance in Finals Day should be the bare minimum expected from now on.
Continually chop, changing from Championship to the Blast makes that route not so simple. Factor in the ECB fucking over Surrey with ODI scheduling, and it could be another close but no cigar sort of season.
Ever the optimist.