Sussex Sharks Stun Surrey with 36-Run Victory in Vitality Blast

Sussex Sharks stunned Surrey with a dominant 36-run victory at the Kia Oval, handing the defending champions their first defeat in this season's Vitality Blast.

Tom Alsop's blistering 68 off 36 deliveries and Daniel Hughes' composed 65 off 42 propelled Sussex to an imposing 213 for 7, their highest score against Surrey in the format.

Surrey's chase was anchored by Ollie Pope's unbeaten 99, but Sussex's disciplined bowling, led by Nathan McAndrew's 3 for 32, proved too formidable.

Alsop, demoted to number six in the Sussex order, played a pivotal role, adding 47 with Hughes and 68 with McAndrew. Hughes' four boundaries in an over from Gus Atkinson showcased his class, while Alsop's eight fours and three sixes kept the Surrey bowlers at bay.

McAndrew's late cameo of 29 from 15 pushed Sussex past 200, setting a challenging target for Surrey.

Surrey's openers fell cheaply, but Roy and Pope steadied the ship with a 73-run stand. However, Sussex's spinners, Archie Lenham and James Coles, applied pressure, preventing Surrey from accelerating.

Roy's dismissal in the 13th over proved crucial, as Lenham and Coles continued to stifle the Surrey batsmen. Smith's brief threat was extinguished by a toe-ended drive, leaving Pope with an insurmountable task.

Despite reaching his maiden T20 century in the final over, Pope's efforts were in vain as Sussex secured a well-deserved victory.

Tags: #SussexSharks, #Surrey, #VitalityBlast, #T20Cricket, #TomAlsop