Surrey’s opening bowlers did the damage before composed innings from Amy Gordon, Maddie Blinkhorn-Jones, and Thea Brookes steered Surrey home to retain the London Cup.
Before play, the two teams observed a moment’s applause in recognition of the life of Patsy Lovell. Lovell was Surrey’s most-capped women’s player and as well as representing her country on the field, she also spent 20 years as a selector for the national side after retirement.
Surrey struck in the first over as a fine piece of glove work from Rhianna Southby saw opener Saskia Horley stumped off Priya Khatkar. Anna Lewis struck just three balls later, bowling Georgia Irving before Khatkar grabbed her second, bowling Lucy Porter, to leave Middlesex 4-3.
Artemis Downer and Issy Routledge tried to steady the ship but a mix up saw Routledge run out for eight. Claudie Cooper took two in two balls as Louise Poulter chipped the off-spinner to mid-off and then cleaned bowled Jenny Blofeld – knocking her leg stump out of the ground. Middlesex were reeling at 28-6, with Surrey firmly in charge.
A terrific seventh-wicket partnership of 58 between Downer and Sonali Patel lifted Middlesex. Downer calmly kept the scoreboard ticking over whilst Patel played some beautiful strokes. However Patel’s inning was ended by an excellent delivery from Charlotte Stubbs that swung in and hit middle and leg stump, with the batter departing for 26.
Gayatri Gole was run out without scoring as Middlesex looked to push to as many runs as they could.
Downer finished with 35* having rescued her team and dragged them up to 96-8 at the end of the innings.
Amy Gordon and Rhianna Southby opened up for Surrey and Southby threaded a beautiful stroke through midwicket to get Surrey up and running in the first over. Gordon was bowled off a free hit two deliveries later but she despatched the following ball through cover point for four.
Kate Coppack opened the bowling from the Pavilion End and cleaned up Southby with a brilliant first ball. Coppack had two wickets in three balls as Kirstie White nicked behind without scoring, bringing Maddie Blinkhorn-Jones to the crease with Surrey 10-2.
Some tight bowling from Routledge and Coppack kept the Surrey pair in check as Surrey reached 27-2 at the end of the powerplay.
Gordon was ticking along nicely, late-cutting Layla Judge for four before unfurling an exquisite cover drive-through covers for four more.
At the other end, Blinkhorn-Jones was watchful, rotating the strike and keeping the scoreboard ticking over. The 36-run partnership was ended thanks to a lovely delivery from Sonali Patel that ducked in off the seam to bowl Gordon for 25.
Thea Brookes came to the crease with Surrey 46-3 to join Blinkhorn-Jones. The two continued to run well and put pressure on the Middlesex fielders. By the time Blinkhorn-Jones (22) was dismissed by Kate Coppack, the finishing line was in sight for Surrey.
Stubbs (6*) and Brookes (26*) saw Surrey home by six wickets with 13 deliveries to spare.
