Surrey v Lancashire Lightning, Vitality Blast

By ECB Reporters’ Network supported by Rothesay

Tom Curran and Reece Topley took the plaudits as Surrey opened their Vitality Blast campaign with a 59-run victory over Lancashire Lightning at the Kia Oval.

Curran blasted 49 from 20 including four 6s to propel the hosts to what at one stage seemed an unlikely 213-6, Jason Roy contributing 45 (19).

Topley then dismissed Keaton Jennings and Matty Hurst before the visitors got a run on the board and while Paul Coughlin (37) and Chris Green (35) showed some defiance, Lancashire were bowled out for 154, slow left-armer Yousef Majid picking up 3-42.

Lancashire Lightning skipper Keaton Jennings said: "There was a lot going on at the end of their innings with certain guys going off the field and a couple of injuries.

"Batting-wise we got blown away at the top but ended up finishing the 16th over ahead of where they were at the same point.

"There are positives to take away but quite a few negatives, but that is part and parcel of T20 cricket.

"Tom Curran's knock takes the score from 185, 190 to what was it 213. That sort of knock kick starts your bowling innings and changes the momentum of the game.

"It was a real kick in the teeth (the batting powerplay) and takes the momentum out of your innings. In 80% of games if you are three or four down in the powerplay you lose.

"It is not ideal being 0-2 as you want the top order to take responsibility. Ultimately you want one of your top order to go and get a big score, a 70, 80 or 90 to really take the game by the horns."