With an incredibly intense and action packed cricketing summer now complete, we’re looking back on some of the moments that will be remembered for a long time for anyone who made the journey to The Kia Oval.
2021 saw England face India in the fourth LV= Test match of the series and Sri Lanka in a Royal London One-Day International at The Kia Oval, 35 days of cricket featuring Surrey sides and the introduction of The Hundred with the opening fixtures in both the women’s and men’s competition played at our ground.
With that much cricket in one year, there will be lots to reflect on for all Surrey Members and supporters who joined us in South London. Here we’ll take a look at five of our favourite memories.
The best way to see Surrey at The Kia Oval in 2022 and get priority access to international tickets for the visits of South Africa’s Test team and India’s ODI side. Memberships are priced at £20 for U16s and from £71 for adults.
Fans were back!
With no attendance possible for the first two matches at The Kia Oval in 2021, it was a huge moment in May when the shutters opened on the gates and fans were back in the ground once again.
While the attendance was restricted to just 25% of capacity throughout the Vitality Blast campaign, that atmosphere brought back some of the sheer thrill of a T20 night at our iconic ground and signalled brighter days to come. They came soon enough with the England v India Test match at the start of the September sold out for all five days and a party vibe in the stands.
Sam Curran’s career best ODI figures
The second ODI in the series between England and Sri Lanka on the 1st July was the first international at The Kia Oval since September 2019 and three Surrey men were in the England side for the occasion.
Sam Curran was the pick of not just those three, but of everyone on the pitch. He took 5/48, including all of the top three for single figure scores, with the tourists 21/4 at one point. They eventually made 241/9 but it was never going to be enough, with Sam’s county teammate Jason Roy hitting 60 before Joe Root and Eoin Morgan completed the job.
The best way to see Surrey at The Kia Oval in 2022 and get priority access to international tickets for the visits of South Africa’s Test team and India’s ODI side. Memberships are priced at £20 for U16s and from £71 for adults.
Ollie Pope & Jamie Overton win the London Derby
Chasing 175 to win the Vitality Blast London Derby in front of the Sky cameras and a crowd enjoying being back at the cricket, the win looked like it was moving away from us when Jordan Clark was out with Surrey on 115/5 in the 15th over.
Ollie Pope was at the crease at the time and Jamie Overton came to join him. From there, the pair went berserk. All of a sudden, the ball was beating the fielders and clearing the rope. In the end, they did it with a complete over to spare with Pope on 52 from 35 balls and Overton on 24 from 10 balls.
Tim David’s brutal Royal London Cup centuries
With qualification on the line for Surrey, Australian-born Singapore international Tim David came to the fore with two of the most stunning centuries The Kia Oval has seen. His first, 140 runs in 70 balls, against Warwickshire guaranteed a play-off spot before the second, 102 runs from 73 balls, took Surrey to the final four.
Those two innings included 36 boundaries with 16 sixes and announced his name to the world. Off the back of those showings, David has had a busy time with contracts at The Hundred, Caribbean Premier League and the Indian Premier League.
Rikki Clarke & Jade Dernbach say goodbye
Following a run-fest that saw Ollie Pope go to a career-best first-class score as well as centuries for the likes of Hashim Amla and Jamie Smith, the main event of the final week of the season came at the very, very end. With the draw all but confirmed, Rikki Clarke came out for his final innings and saw off the part-time bowlers comfortably to end on 12 not out.
After the usual handshakes, Clarke was honoured with a guard of honour from both teams and coaches as well as a standing ovation from the Members’ Pavilion. As he reached the end of the guard, Jade Dernbach (not playing in the match) was also called through to give a wave to the Surrey supporters and receive the applause of his peers.
The best way to see Surrey at The Kia Oval in 2022 and get priority access to international tickets for the visits of South Africa’s Test team and India’s ODI side. Memberships are priced at £20 for U16s and from £71 for adults.
