Kumar Sangakkara starred as Surrey beat Nottinghamshire in a thriller to book their place in the Royal London One-Day Cup final. The 37-year-old’s stunning meant that the South London county, who have not won a major tournament for four years, were able to win their semi-final by just four runs.
RLODC Semi-Final Review
Surrey’s innings did not get off to a good start as Steve Davies was dismissed for just four, caught behind by Riki Wessels off Harry Gurney. Ben Foakes and Sangakkara began to rebuild the innings before the former was trapped in front by Mullaney, just eight short of his 50. The Sri Lankan and Rory Burns got the score to 145-3 before Burns was dismissed by Mullaney for 23. In came wicketkeeper Gary Wilson, who supported the sensational Sangakkara admirably as the two put on 139 for the fourth wicket before Sangakkara was finally dismissed for 166. Wilson was dismissed for 48 on the final ball of the innings, but by then Surrey had set a competitive 301 for Nottinghamshire to chase.
Sangakkara’s innings was a sight to behold. His 166 came from just 138 balls and he hit 13 fours and one six in the process. It was a perfect 50-over innings — he batted sensibly but aggressively, ran between the wickets like a 20-year-old, and built partnerships with every batsman who stayed in for a long period of time. It is a real shame that cricket will soon lose one of its all-time greats and Surrey will be all the weaker without him.
Nottinghamshire’s innings began even more badly than Surrey’s. In the second over, young Sam Curran dismissed Riki Wessels and Brendan Taylor in successive balls, dragging Notts down to 1-2. Exactly three overs later, Michael Lumb was caught behind off Jade Dernbach for just eight, and the score was 16-3. 285 needed to win, 273 balls left, seven wickets remaining.
Samit Patel and Greg Smith began the fightback. By the time Patel was dismissed by Zafar Ansari at the halfway point in the innings for 51, Nottinghamshire were 107-4 but firmly behind the run-rate. They needed nearly eight runs an over and did not have too many quality batsmen left.
Smith and Daniel Christian brought their side back into the match. Christian hit a brilliant pinch-hitting 54 off 43 and Smith began to reach his century as Notts were 219-5 with eight and a half overs remaining. After Christian was dismissed by Aneesh Kapil, Steven Mullaney kept the momentum going and even sped up the run rate. His innings meant that when Smith was run out by bowler Tom Curran in unfortunate circumstances for 124 Notts needed only 27 off 17 balls.
However, there was one more twist in the tale. Jade Dernbach, so often criticised in recent years for his inconsistent bowling and poor performances at the death, bowled a brilliant penultimate over, conceding just five runs and clean bowling Chris Read in the process to leave Notts fourteen runs to win off the final over with Tom Curran bowling and Stuart Broad on strike.
Wicketkeeper Gary Wilson made a potentially game-changing error as he let through a needless bye that should have been converted into two had Broad not hesitated for the second run. This left Mullaney, who ended the innings on 42 off just 26 balls, facing. The second ball was a dot ball, but two well-run twos and a brilliant four to the leg-side boundary left Notts needing five to win off the final ball. This was one-day cricket at its best — all results possible and the game going down to the final ball.
Tom Curran looked visibly nervous and received words of encouragement and advice from captain Gareth Batty and Jade Dernbach. He managed to hold his nerve and bowled an excellent delivery which Mullaney, needing a six to win the game, was only able to drive through the off. Surrey made the final and began to celebrate.
Surrey will play Gloucestershire in the final on Saturday, 19th September. It should be the final first-class game for two international players: Sangakkara and 2005 Ashes hero Geraint Jones.
