Another blistering T20 century from Surrey opener Jason Roy was not enough to ensure his side made it to the knock-out section of this year’s NatWest blast competition.
Roy hit 120 not out from 62 balls, including three sixes and fifteen fours, as he tore apart the Kent bowling line up.
That was his second ton in this years tournament, in addition to two other scores of 50 plus, leaving him with an impressive personal tally of 495 runs from twelve innings.
But Surrey paid for their inconsistency in this years competition when rain in Chelmsford ensured Essex pipped the Kia Oval side to the final qualifying berth from the south group. On the pitch in south London last Friday Roy’s opening partner Aaron Finch hit 79 from 51 balls as Surrey mustered 212 from their 20 overs. In reply Kent fell 37 runs short of their victory target despite Sam Northeast top scoring with 59 runs from 44 balls.
Two days earlier Surrey dished out a hefty defeat to visitors Gloucestershire in the Royal London One Day Cup. Batting first at the Kia Oval the home side posted an impressive 323 from their 50 overs with Steven Davies knocking off 79 of those runs.
In addition both Rory Burns and Sam Curran picked up half centuries to leave Gloucestershire with a mountain to climb when they took the field to bat. Skipper Gareth Batty proved to be the visitors chief tormentor with the ball as the veteran spinner picked up five wickets at the cost of 41 runs.
By the time Batty had taken the final Gloucestershire wicket the south west county side were 165 runs short of Surrey’s effort. On Monday night in the same tournament Roy was once again in top form, scoring 93 not out, before the rain intervened and caused the game against Glamorgan to be abandoned as a no result. For the latest Surrey news visit www.kiaoval.com.