Blake Century Powers Surrey to 89-Run Victory over Essex
Surrey’s Josh Blake guided his team to a resounding 89-run victory over Essex in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup at Chelmsford. Blake’s unbeaten century and Ollie Sykes’s explosive 87 propelled Surrey to a formidable total of 306 for 4.
Blake, who survived a dropped catch on 40, anchored Surrey’s innings with a composed 100 from 100 balls. He forged a crucial 98-run partnership with opener Ryan Patel (83) and an unbroken 155-run stand with Sykes.
Sykes, making his List A debut, unleashed a barrage of sixes, hitting five in his 56-ball knock. His aggressive batting propelled Surrey to a dominant position in the latter stages of the innings.
Essex’s chase faltered from the outset, with wickets falling at regular intervals. Captain Tom Westley offered the only significant resistance with a gritty 78, but his efforts proved futile as Essex fell well short of their target.
Cameron Steel was the pick of Surrey’s bowlers, claiming four wickets for 50 runs. Conor McKerr and James Taylor also chipped in with two wickets each.
Surrey’s victory was their second in the tournament, while Essex’s defeat eliminated them from contention for the knockout stages.