Bopara smokes century as Northants cruise to Finals Day on the back of his belligerent 105 not out of 46 balls.
The Northamptonshire Steelbacks achieved their first Vitality Blast Finals Day since 2016 thanks to an incredible knock of 105 not out from 46 balls from former England all-rounder Ravi Bopara, who stunned Surrey.
In a rain-shortened match at the Kia Oval, the 40-year-old, a former Blast champion with Essex, turned the clock back with a spectacular show, scoring his first Northamptonshire hundred as they rallied after dropping two early wickets to register 154 for four.
With his first half-century of the competition, an unbroken 69 from 38, Surrey captain Sam Curran heroically tried to save his team, but they were defeated at 147 for six.
Ben Sanderson (two for 24) and David Willey (one for 28), two seasoned seamers, maintained composure in the final overs to ensure the Steelbacks’ victory.
When play eventually started at 7.50 p.m., the Surrey captain had no qualms about choosing to bowl after winning a key toss that reduced the match to 14 overs each side due to an early evening downpour.
Jordan Clark (three for 13), who made the ball swing and dismissed both Steelbacks openers for ducks in a devastating opening over, swiftly validated that decision before Tim Robinson’s barrage of boundaries carried the scoreboard along.
Runs flowed through the veteran’s combination of power, timing and precision, with Gus Atkinson’s single over disappearing for 18 before Bopara clipped Clark to the fence to post his half-century.
Supported by Saif Zaib (17 not out from 12), Bopara hit the accelerator and dominated their unbroken partnership of 74 from 35, hooking Tom Lawes for four from the penultimate ball of the innings to bring up a remarkable 45-ball ton.
Like the visitors, Surrey were two down early on as Ryan Patel swung his first ball into the hands of deep square leg and Lewis McManus, standing up to Sanderson, took a thin edge to dismiss Jason Roy.
As he and Sam Curran accumulated methodically and maintained the necessary rate within range, Ollie Pope (41 from 23) went on the attack, driving his namesake, leg-spinner Lloyd, for a straight maximum and cutting Willey for two fours.
Before Pope top-edged a short delivery from George Scrimshaw (three for 34) to long leg, the pair added 74 from 38. Two balls later, Dan Lawrence holed out, leaving the home team in need of another 70 from 32.
Laurie Evans hit consecutive fours from Scrimshaw before miscuing the next one to point, and Curran kept them in the game by hitting Justin Broad over the cover fence.
And, although Curran smote a Sanderson full toss for six – it was not enough.