Vitality Blast: Middlesex chase down record 253 to beat Surrey by seven wickets at The Oval | Cricket News

Middlesex produced the biggest successful run chase in Vitality Blast history to stun Surrey with an incredible seven-wicket victory at The Oval.

Will Jacks (96) fired five sixes in an over and put on a 177-run opening stand with Laurie Evans (85) inside 13 overs, as Surrey took control after losing the toss and being put into bat, setting Middlesex a huge target of 253.

Tom Helm, Martin Andersson and Ryan Higgins claimed two wickets each to restrict Surrey to 252-7, their second 250+ total of the season, only for Stevie Eskinazi to get the visitors’ reply off to a strong start.

The Middlesex captain put on 90 with Joe Cracknell (36) for the first wicket before the latter was run out by Tom Curran, with the Eskinazi making 73 from 39 balls before being removed by Chris Jordan.

Ryan Higgins made 48 from 24 deliveries and added 105 for the third wicket with Max Holden (68 not out) to move Middlesex to the brink of a record chase, only for Josh Blake to claim a smart catch from the behind the stumps to give Jordan his second wicket.

Middlesex required nine from the final over, where Jack Davies (11no) produced an incredible scoop for six off the opening delivery and fired the next for a boundary to see the visitors complete a dramatic victory with four balls to spare.

The remarkable victory ends a run of 10 consecutive defeats this season for Middlesex in the South Group, while Surrey missed out on the opportunity to move above Somerset at the top of the table.

More to follow…