Tillakaratne Dilshan’s Surrey debut ended in victory over league leaders Hampshire thanks to some tight bowling from the Sri Lankan all rounder and a sensational display of power hitting from Jason Roy, Kevin Pietersen and Gary Wilson.
The former Sri Lanka captain took 1-16 off four impressively tight overs before he got to stand back and watch Roy blast 63 off just 25 balls.
Even though Dilshan departed for 15, his replacement at the crease Kevin Pietersen struck successive sixes off Glenn Maxwell to help Surrey to a victory in double quick time as they overhauled Hampshire’s 131/9, with Azhar Mahmood picking up three wickets, with six overs to spare. The visitors endured a torrid start as James Vince edged Azhar Mahmood behind with Gary Wilson effecting the catch. Jimmy Adams was next to go in the fifth over as he lofted Dilshan straight to Robin Peterson.
Chris Tremlett was next in on the act as he induced the edge of dangerman Michael Carberry to snaffle the England batsman for 16 and leave Hampshire on 36/3 after the powerplay. The dangerous Glenn Maxwell was next in but he could not produce any fireworks as he picked out Jason Roy off the bowling of Gareth Batty.
It became 49/5 when Sean Ervine located Zafar Ansari to depart for 10. At the halfway stage, Hampshire were 55/5 with Will Smith and Matt Coles at the crease.
In this situation the last thing needed was a run out but that was what happened as Coles couldn’t make his ground to depart for two to leave the visitors teetering on the brink of complete collapse at 57/6. Chris Wood helped steady the ship and lift the score near to 100. But with the score on 90 Will Smith was stumped by Wilson off a wide from Ansari.
Michael Bates helped Wood lift the score into three figures but perished in the final over as he was caught behind off the bowling of Mahmood. Kyle Abbott hit a six from his first ball before Wood was caught behind trying to Dilscoop the Pakistani. However, the South African found the strike again and blasted a four to lift Hampshire to 131/9 after the 20 overs.
Jason Roy started like a train hitting two fours off Danny Briggs’ first over before Dilshan gave Wood the same treatment in the second as Surrey started with clear intentions of getting an early night. Roy, in particular, was in a hurry taking Coles for 18 in one four balls with some wonderful power hitting.
Dilshan was finding the going more difficult as Abbott kept him in check but he did move the scoreboard along, guiding the ball past short third man for four. Roy was unmoved and brought up his 50 off a staggering 19 balls.
The former Sri Lankan captain fell when he was clean bowled by Briggs but this brought Pietersen to the crease. The former England batsman, who many believe was harshly sacked by the ECB, tried to rotate the strike for Roy to continue the fireworks. But that came to an end when the opener picked out Vince at extra cover to depart for 63. Pietersen had his eye in and promptly hit Maxwell over the ropes with some sensational drives.
Gary Wilson came in and kept the scoring rate going and hit the winning runs with a six to finish on 31 with Pietersen also unbeaten on 24 as Surrey wrapped up a comfortable win.
