Santner's Brilliance: Kent's Collapse Hands Victory

Evans, Santner Star as Surrey Demolish Kent in 42-Run Blast Victory Surrey produced a clinical all-round performance to thrash the Kent Spitfires by 42 runs in a high-octane Vitality Blast clash at Canterbury, underpinned by Laurie Evans’ explosive 62 off 26 balls* and Mitchell Santner’s incisive 3 for 28. Set 194 to win, Kent collapsed spectacularly from 109 for 2 to 118 for 8, losing six wickets in just 17 balls, as Surrey tightened the squeeze and exposed the hosts’ brittle middle order. Evans Ignites Late Surge After Pope Platform Put in to bat, Surrey started strongly with Ollie Pope (53) and Dom Sibley (36) adding 83 for the first wicket, Pope doing the bulk of the scoring and showcasing elegant strokeplay, including a six off Joe Denly launched over the retirement flats. However, Kent clawed back in the middle overs: Pope chipped Matt Parkinson to Denly. Jason Roy scratched to 4 off 10 before falling to Parkinson. Sibley and Sam Curran departed in the same Grant Stewart over. At 128 for 5 after 16 overs, Surrey needed a boost—and Laurie Evans provided it in style. Dropped on 15, he punished Kent with a ferocious onslaught, including 29 runs off Tom Rogers in the 17th over. Evans brought up his fifty in just 20 balls and powered Surrey to 193 for 7, with Stewart finishing as Kent's standout bowler (3 for 27). Kent’s Chase Unravels in Chaos The Spitfires never recovered from a jittery start, losing Daniel Bell-Drummond to a superb Sam Curran direct hit early. While Tawanda Muyeye (26) played brightly, he fell to Santner, and despite a fluent Zak Crawley (45) and a solid-looking Joe Denly, Kent remained in the hunt until the 14th over. Then came disaster. In a cataclysmic 17-ball stretch, Kent disintegrated: Denly and Crawley were dismissed within three balls. The middle and lower order imploded, with Santner slicing through the lineup. Kent crumbled from 109 for 2 to 118 for 8, eventually limping to 151 for 9. Match Summary 🟢 Surrey 193/7 (Evans 62, Pope 53; Stewart 3-27) Kent 151/9 (Crawley 45; Santner 3-28)* Result: Surrey won by 42 runs 🏆 Player of the Match: Laurie Evans