Watch: Chris Jordan almost pulls off spectacular catch, throws the ball over the rope instead to give Essex final-ball victory
Watch: Feroze Khushi hit a six off the final ball of the T20 Blast to help Essex beat Surrey last night (July 2) in a last-gasp finish at the Kia Oval.
In another high-scoring game at the ground, Surrey blasted 195 batting first. Sunil Narine smashed an unbeaten 78 off 38 balls before also getting rid of Essex opener Dan Lawrence for 58.
Essex were on course to chase down the target comfortably after Michael Pepper hit 75 off 39 batting at No.3 alongside Lawrence’s half-century. However, Lawrence’s wicket brought on a collapse where they lost four wickets for 29 runs having been 120-1 in the 12th over. They also lost Simon Harmer to a run out off the final ball of the penultimate over to bring No.9 Shane Snater to the crease.
Khushi went into the final six on 27 off 23, and Essex needed eight runs to win. The first five balls of the over all went for singles, leaving Khushi on strike for the final delivery and three runs required to win.
Sean Abbott banged the ball short into the pitch; Khushi backed away to give himself room, and pulled the ball high into the leg side with Chris Jordan running underneath.
As the ball hurtled towards the boundary, Jordan pulled off a phenomenal catch, both hands outstretched. However, his momentum propelled him over the boundary rope, and Jordan desperately threw the ball up into the air to prevent it being deemed six as Jamie Overton waited at close range to take the catch inside the rope.
But Jordan could not quite aim the ball to land on the right side of the line. It landed the wrong side of the boundary, the umpire signalled six, and Essex won the game. Kushi finished on 35 not out from 26 balls.
Watch: Chris Jordan almost pulls off spectacular catch instead to deny Essex a final-ball victory
WOW! An absolutely incredible finish at the Kia Oval 🤯
Feroze Khushi hits a six to help Essex win a thriller off the final ball! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/l0oI7aUYcy
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) July 2, 2023
Subscribe to the Wisden Cricket YouTube channel for post-match analysis, player interviews, and much more.
