Ravi Bopara Leads Northants Steelbacks to T20 Blast Finals Day with Unbeaten 105
Former England all-rounder Ravi Bopara played a match-winning role as Northants Steelbacks secured a spot in the T20 Blast Finals Day with a seven-run victory over Surrey at The Oval.
The 40-year-old smashed an unbeaten 105 off just 46 balls in a rain-affected, 14-overs-a-side clash, guiding the Steelbacks to a competitive total despite both openers falling for ducks in the first over. Bopara added 47 with Justin Broad and an unbroken 74 with Saif Zaib to keep the Steelbacks on track.
“Just be brave and keep going. That’s the best way to play,” Bopara told My Newspaper Radio Northampton. “Ten an over is usually a good score and we managed to get just above that. It was definitely chaseable but it was good enough to put them under pressure.”
Surrey’s chase was kept alive by Ollie Pope (41) and Sam Curran (69 not out), but tight bowling from David Willey and Ben Sanderson in the final overs ensured a Northants victory.
Bopara’s experience in 493 T20 matches worldwide proved crucial, as he emphasized the importance of playing with confidence under pressure. The 2013 and 2016 T20 Blast champions now have a chance to become only the third three-time winners at Edgbaston on 13 September.
Looking ahead to Finals Day, Bopara also has a personal milestone in sight, needing just 61 more runs to reach 10,000 in T20 cricket. “I’m still enjoying it, it’s still fun,” he added.
