Ravi Bopara rolled back the years with a scintillating century as Northamptonshire stunned Surrey in the quarter-finals of the Vitality Blast at The Kia Oval.<\/p>\n
In a rain-reduced 14-overs-a-side contest, Bopara (105no off 46 balls) smashed 12 fours and five sixes to notch the third T20 ton of his career at the age of 40, Northamptonshire posting 154-4 after being inserted by Surrey.<\/p>\n
In reply, the home side took a thrilling contest down to the wire courtesy of a fine fifty from Sam Curran (69no off 38), who further bolstered his claims for an England recall.<\/p>\n
The 27-year-old all-rounder starred for Oval Invincibles as they secured a third-straight men’s Hundred title at the weekend, and though he carried that form with him on his Surrey return, he couldn’t quite see his side over the line.<\/p>\n
With 19 needed off the final over, Curran cracked Ben Sanderson’s third ball for six, but Surrey would ultimately fall seven runs short.<\/p>\n
Defeat extends Surrey’s drought in the domestic T20 competition, with the inaugural champions in 2003 yet to lift the trophy since.<\/p>\n
Two-time winners Northants book their first trip back to T20 Finals Day – on Saturday, September 13, live on Sky Sports – since 2016, when they last clinched the title.<\/p>\n
Bopara’s ton was all the more remarkable considering Northamptonshire’s innings got off to a disastrous start when two down for only one run after the first over – Ricardo Vasconcelos and captain David Willey both out for ducks to Jordan Clark (3-13).<\/p>\n
Surrey also lost early wickets, reduced to 9-2, before Ollie Pope (41 off 23) and Curran got things back on track with a stand of 74.<\/p>\n
George Scrimshaw (3-34) broke the partnership, adding the further scalps of Dan Lawrence (2) and Laurie Evans (15) as Surrey’s chase sputtered late on but for Curran’s near match-winning heroics.<\/p>\n
Vitality Blast quarter-finals on Sky Sports<\/p>\n
All times UK and Ireland, all live on Sky Sports<\/p>\n
Wednesday Sep 3 (The Kia Oval): Northants beat Surrey by seven runsFriday Sep 5: Durham vs Hampshire (Chester-le-Street, 6.30pm)Saturday Sep 6: Lancashire vs Kent (Old Trafford, 2.30pm)Saturday Sep 6: Somerset vs Bears (Taunton, 6.30pm)<\/p>\n
The winners advance to Finals Day at Edgbaston on Saturday, September 13, which is also live in full on Sky Sports.<\/p>\n