Jamie Overton: Surrey used disappointing result to fire them to victory over Hampshire

Jamie Overton claimed Surrey used the disappointment of losing by one-run to Glamorgan on Tuesday to see off Hampshire, the following night, and return to the top of the Vitality Blast South Group.

On a sluggish Southampton pitch, the visitors made 146-7 – Jamie Smith showing the way with a T20 career best 59 – before defending successfully to win by 20 runs, writes Marcus Hook.

“Last night [Tuesday] was a bit frustrating, but that’s cricket. Tonight [Wednesday] we used that frustration to make sure we got back to winning ways,” said Overton (2-14), who starred with the ball alongside Gus Atkinson, who took 3-21. “We thought we were probably 15 runs light. But the boys stuck at it really well and we’ve managed to come away with a win.

“Jamie played an incredible knock to almost hold the innings together. We stumbled a little bit in the last two or three overs, which meant we were a little bit short, but we bowled and fielded really well.

“We know they’ve got a really good batting line-up, but we thought with our skills and the way we’re sort of building that we could defend 146 and put them under pressure.

“The ball was sticking and gripping a little bit. With the big boundaries and it being a little bit soft, due to all the rain they have had, runs were hard to come by. But we stuck at it well and wickets kept falling at the right times.”

Next up for Surrey are two key clashes with Kent, who are second in the South group table with a game in hand.

“If you look at the Kent side they’ve got a lot of game changers and game winners,” said Overton.

“No game in the South group is an easy one, but we’ll go to Canterbury full of confidence and, hopefully, we’ll get another result to go our way.”

PICTURE: KEITH GILLARD