You can’t buy experience as Ravi Bopara and Ben Sanderson showed, as the duo led a workmanlike Northants side to a famous win against a superstar Surrey outfit, to get the Steelbacks to the Vitality Blast Finals Day.

Sometimes a game of cricket is decided before a ball has even been bowled or that is at least what a lot of the crowd at the Oval were thinking when Jordan Clark reduced the Northants Steelbacks to 1-2 off of the first over. He dismissed Ricardo Vasconscelos and Steelbacks skipper David Willey both for ducks edging behind off swinging deliveries.

However, experienced campaigner Bopara had other ideas at the ripe old age of 40 he took the Surrey attack apart, on what first appeared to be a green seamer, striking the ball beautifully hitting 105 off of just 46 balls. All the Surrey fielders could do was aquaplane around the in wet with the game reduced to a 14 over game after earlier rain. Bopara would bring his century up in the final over of the innings, with a raucous Oval crowd standing as one to appreciate the former England international. He would lead his side to a score of 154-4 off 14 overs

Surrey’s reply started badly with Ryan Patel holing out first ball at deep square off of David Willey and Jason Roy being caught behind off of Ben Sanderson for 8 in the second over. Surrey came roaring back led by Ollie Pope and skipper Sam Curran making light off the 10 runs an over run rate. Then tall seamer George Scrimshaw took two wickets in an over removing Pope and Dan Lawrence both caught on the fence leaving Surrey 93-4 off 9. Surrey’s impressive depth was on show with white ball specialist Laurie Evans coming in at 6. Curran was still at the crease however smashing it to all parts.

Evans then departed also to Scrimshaw for 15 off 7 balls deceived by a slower ball. Tom joined brother Sam in the middle with the home side needing 33 off of the final 3 overs. Sanderson bowled a superb 12 over dismissing Tom Curran and only conceding 5 runs. The penultimate over was bowled superbly by Northants skipper Willey who absolutely nailed his yorkers, meaning Curran and Surrey needed 19 off the final over for victory.

Up stepped Sanderson who stayed composed despite Curran dispatching the third ball for a maximum to take the midlands side home by seven runs. The Surrey skipper would finish on an unbeaten 69 but it would all be in vain.

Looking back the difference in the game was the bowling quality at the death from the two sides with Tom Lawes and the Curran brothers all proving expensive and not bowling to a clear plan, while the Steelbacks experienced attack nailed theirs. It was a stunning victory especially considering the Steelbacks had lost talismanic bat Matt Breetzke the day before the game. But with their experience they will not be a side anyone will want to play on Finals Day.