🔥 QUARTER-FINAL BOUND! | Surrey Men v Essex Men | 2026 Vitality Blast T20 Highlights

Matt Critchley continued his week of spin wizardry as Essex thrashed Surrey by eight wickets at the Kia Oval to book their place in the Vitality Blast knockout stages. The Lancashire-born leg spinner followed up his 4-16 against Hampshire 48 hours earlier with 3-16 to help bowl out the hosts for 123 with three balls of their 20 overs unused. Charlie Bennett provided good support with 2-13, Josh Philippe (33) and Chris Jordan (25) the only Surrey batters threatening to break the shackles. Essex, who’d needed a win to progress from the South Group made light work of the chase, Michael Pepper leading the run charge with an unbeaten 71 (3 6s, 6 4s). Both sides will now have away ties in the quarter-finals to be staged on Wednesday afternoon.