Roy, Curran blast Surrey to win as Lancashire fall flat

Tom Curran and Reece Topley took the plaudits as Surrey opened their Vitality Blast campaign with a 59-run victory over Lancashire Lightning at the Kia Oval. Curran blasted 49 from 20 including four sixes to propel the hosts to what at one stage seemed an unlikely 213 for 6, Jason Roy contributing 45 (19). This matches the "Roy, Curran lead Surrey surge as Lancashire fall flat" narrative. Surrey posted big then Topley + Majid demolished Lancs. Pattern: Lancs top order keeps failing. They were 31/3 in 3 overs vs GT earlier and here 0/2 vs Surrey. Flat performances leaving them 7th in Championship and struggling in Blast. Laurie Evans was run out by Joe Moores' direct hit, but the Curran brothers joined forces and while Sam in his first match of the season after a groin injury was run out for 32, Tom played a magical cameo, including three huge sixes from the last six balls bowled by Green, meaning 56 came from the last three overs. Key numbers: Lancs lost 2 wickets for 0 runs, then 3 wickets inside powerplay. Coughlin 37 and Green 35 provided late resistance, but the top-order damage was done. Coughlin and Green offered a glimmer of hope with an enterprising stand of 62 from 38, the former extracting some revenge for his earlier punishment ball in hand by hitting three sixes in his 37. He eventually fell caught at mid-off, and after Green was taken at backward point, the visitors fell away.