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Darren Stevens fires Kent to emphatic win over Surrey

Darren Stevens hits 90 off 39 balls before taking 4-39 to lead Kent to a 54-run victory over Surrey in the T20 Blast at The Oval.

Darren Stevens led the way with both bat and ball as Kent produced a dominant display to beat Surrey by 54 runs in the T20 Blast at The Oval this evening.

The 39-year-old all-rounder struck five sixes in a knock of 90 off 39 balls as Kent posted an imposing total of 230-7, before taking 4-39 as Surrey slipped to 177 all out.

The recovering Moises Henriques and Rory Burns were absent following the horrific collision which left both in hospital earlier, while veteran Kumar Sangakkara is away with Sri Lanka.

Surrey were also without Jason Roy, who is away with the England squad, and injured duo Azhar Mahmood and Steven Davies, but they made a good start when Zafar Ansari bowled Joe Denly (6) in the opening over.

Sam Northeast scored 90 in Thursday's win over Essex and his form was clear early on as he smashed four through point, played the latest of cut shots and launched six over long-on inside the first 10 balls of his knock.

Opener Daniel-Bell Drummond moved the visitors past 50 in the sixth over with six over mid-wicket, before Northeast (32) became Ansari's second victim an over later as the spinner returned to make an impact again with a simple return catch.

Fabian Cowdrey made a bright start to his knock with 21 from 11 balls, but he was sent back inside after driving Tim Linley straight to James Burke at cover, and Burke followed by example to take a similar wicket when Bell-Drummond's innings was ended at 38 with Vikram Solanki taking the catch.

Stevens and Alex Blake (27) took charge following Bell-Drummond's dismissal as Surrey struggled to keep the pressure on, and the former reached his half-century with a clever loft over third-man.

Stevens took a particular liking to the bowling of Burke, who appeared powerless to prevent the carnage as the Kent ace scored 26 runs off the bat in one over, but he departed for 90 off 39 balls after picking out Ben Foakes at long-on off the bowling of Linley in the final over.

Blake was out a few moments later while trying to switch-hit past 17-year-old debutant Sam Curran at short third-man, and despite losing three wickets in the last over, Kent were by far the happier of the two sides at the halfway stage as the visitors reached their highest T20 total.

In reply, Surrey were 1-1 when Stevens continued a fine night by bowling Aneesh Kapil (0), and when Foakes (10) miscued a pull into the safe hands of James Tredwell off the bowling of Ivan Thomas, the hosts were already looking beaten at 33-2 in the fifth over.

Tom Curran, who was handed a promotion to the top of the order, displayed impressive timing on his way to 41 off 22 balls, but a risky call for two cost him his wicket.

Despite the loss of wickets, Surrey continued to score at an impressive rate with Ansari (33) and Gary Wilson at the crease, but they were dealt a blow when the former followed a six by delivering Stevens to Thomas at a wide long-on.

Wilson reached his 50 from 30 balls before watching Solanki offer a catch to wicketkeeper Ryan Davies off Matt Coles to leave Surrey needing 91 runs from the final six overs.

Stevens picked up his third wicket when Mitchell Claydon held on backtracking at short fine-leg to remove Wilson (55), and he struck again to trap Burke (4) lbw as Surrey's challenge faded.

Claydon (3-16) took three wickets in the final over as Surrey were eventually dismissed for 177 in a third successive home defeat in the competition, while Kent continue to lead the way in the South Group alongside Hampshire.

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Steven Davies of Surrey in action during day one of the LV County Championship match between Surrey and Glamorgan at The Kia Oval on April 06, 2014
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