Walter wallops a rapid 50 to end Essex’s drought in Blast

PAUL Walter smashed his first half-century of this season's Vitality Blast as Essex broke their duck in the tournament by stunning Surrey in a rain-reduced final-ball encounter at the Kia Oval, writes Ben Kosky of the ECB reporters network.

- Ben Kosky

The left-hander struck 55 from 26 balls, sharing an opening partnership of 64 from 27 with Michael Pepper (36 from 15) as Essex finally registered a South Group victory at their 10th attempt, chasing down a target of 142.

The contest was reduced to 12 overs a side following a heavy downpour 15 minutes before the scheduled start, with Surrey posting a challenging total of 141 for six.

Former Essex leg-spinner Adam Zampa did his best to ruin their hopes on his debut for Surrey, taking three for 14 in three overs, but it was not enough as Matt Critchley carved Sam Curran’s final ball to the boundary to clinch victory.

Once play finally began, Essex struck twice inside the reduced powerplay, with Pepper's diving catch in the deep accounting for Dom Sibley and Will Jacks (20 from 13) obligingly punting Luc Benkenstein’s first delivery straight to mid-off.

Sam Curran (25 from 13) struck the ball cleanly, thrashing 16 from Walter's first three deliveries before going after the next one as well, with Jordan Cox racing out from behind the stumps to complete a tumbling catch near point.