The Cricketer looks at the main talking points from the T20 Blasst clash between Surrey and Somerset at the Kia Oval
This briefly felt like it might become a repeat of last season's T20 Blast semi-final, a game won by Somerset's basics and lost by Surrey's carelessness. They were caught on the boundary on command then, and Lewis Gregory's men just gleefully accepted each gift.
For a short while, it looked like the reunion might go the same way: Laurie Evans caught at third man, Dan Lawrence and Dan Lawrence each caught at deep square leg. Tom Lammonby was the fielder on all three occasions, positioned on the legside as the only fielder for miles, and yet helped there using Riley Meredith's pace on both occasions.
Evans perhaps was unfortunate; Lawrence careless in his placement; Roy laboured throughout, pinned on the body by Meredith and uncomfortable thereafter. Surrey found themselves 28 for 3 in the fourth over.
And yet, from there, they never looked back…
Jamie Smith was magnificent for Surrey (Alex Davidson/Getty Images)
It was the final ball of a fifth over that had cost just a single run, and Surrey were 33 for 3. Jamie Smith had faced four dot-balls in a row, and the pressure was building.
And then, in one extension of the arms, he deposited Craig Overton over midwicket for the most effortless six you'll ever see. From there, the game changed. There were 59 runs between the fifth and tenth overs, 45 of those to Smith, 30 of them in sixes, 18 across two Roelof van der Merwe overs.
It's no secret nor hot take, but Smith is the real deal – a fifty so accomplished, if that's even the right word, that Ollie Pope just stood at the other end and applauded.
This is no setting through which to judge a possible Test wicketkeeper, but it's enough of a setting to know that Smith is ready for whatever's next. A couple of ODIs as part of a weakened side against Ireland is no representation of the talent we're watching.
Give that man a contract! What a grab by the steward 🙌 pic.twitter.com/L1r5IzeNHL
— Vitality Blast (@VitalityBlast) June 2, 2024
The tone was set by the excellence of Spencer Johnson, opening up with a maiden at Tom Banton and then knocking over both of Somerset's dangerous openers, following up Banton down the legside by bowling Will Smeed.
From there, though, Surrey went through their full armoury: three wickets each for Sean Abbott and Tom Curran, one for Lawrence's off-spin and a superb direct-hit runout from Abbott.
They bat deep and have bowling options everywhere, which is what made them such a dangerous opposition last summer, only to fall short on Finals Day.
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