Image source, Getty Images

For a couple of hours early this evening we were wondering whether we'd be seeing any cricket at all due to the weather in SE11 this afternoon.

Thanks to The Oval ground staff and 22 gutsy players what we got was an instant classic, the sort of knockout tie which encapsulates everything wonderful about the T20 Blast.

Ravi Bopara was already a first-class cricketer for Essex before the first 20-over match was played in 2003 - but he rolled back the years with one of his very best performances, putting adversity aside and putting Northants on his Steel-back with an astonishing knock of 105*.

Surrey battled valiantly with ball and bat, skipper Sam Curran almost dragged his side to their 10th Finals Day appearance, but some fine death bowling from the visitors was enough to ensure a dramatic win.

We'll be back on Friday, hopefully for more of the same, as Durham host Hampshire Haws, seeking to join Northants at Finals Day on 13 September.

Thanks for your company tonight, now get your breath back and we'll see you in 48 hours...

If tonight is anything to go by, you need to clear your diary for these three immediately...

Friday

Durham v Hampshire Hawks

Saturday

Lancashire Lightning v Kent Spitfires (14:30)

Somerset v Bears

Winning captain David Willey talking to Sky Sports:

"I think for a small club like us to get to Finals Day is massive, we talked about it before the comp how we wanted to go one better after last year.

"We are delighted to be there after a fantastic match.

"The schedule is difficult for us with a pretty small squad.

"Credit to all our boys for getting us over the line.

"Hopefully we can get Breetzke back for Finals Day (playing for South Africa v England tomorrow) and hopefully we can have everyone fit."

Phil Rowe
BBC Radio Northampton

The man of the match is holding back an enormous smile, you can see how much that means to him.

He is a really cool dude is Ravi Bopara, a man who does not show much emotion.

The execution of their plans tonight were incredible.

After his unbeaten 105, player of the match Ravi Bopara told Sky Sports:

"It's an amazing win. We knew the pitch might nibble at the start but our philosophy was just keep going and we did.

"If someone has a day out you end up posting a score like that and you're away. It was a good day out.

"I don't know if I'm getting better (with age). I didn't really have that fire in my belly today and that's how I prefer it, I don't know how to describe it.

"The chat was to hold length, we faltered from our plan a little in the middle which brought them into the game a bit, but we got back to it.

"The fans are so loud, it's brilliant to see, we're looking forward to Finals Day."

Phil Rowe
BBC Radio Northampton

How well did David Willey and Ben Sanderson bowl in those last couple of overs!?

What a night, and we are all going to Edgbaston next Saturday.

Who says that T20 cricket is a young man's game?

David Willey, Ben Sanderson and Ravi Bopara, the experienced guys coming through and putting their hands up.

Phil Rowe
BBC Radio Northampton

Phenomenal.

An extraordinary win.

It is pretty close to tears in my eyes.

Very proud of that effort.

No one gave this Northants side a prayer against a side full of internationals, what a great night for Northants cricket.

A slower-ball full-toss from Ben Sanderson is slapped away for two by Sam Curran, who charged down the pitch.

It'll be checked for height. If it's OK then the Steelbacks are almost home and dry.

It's fine.

Nine needed off the final ball.

Sam Curran clubs it, David Willey drops it. He doesn't care. For the first time since 2016, Northants are off to Finals Day.

Sam Curran finishes unbeaten on 69* against his hometown club, but the story of the day, of any day, is surely Ravi Bopara, who smashed 105* from 46 balls as the Steelbacks, who finished fourth in the north group, remember, set an imposing target of 155 which proved enough... just.

Surrey's long, long wait for a second T20 Blast title will last for at least a 23rd year.

Sam Curran has 66* from 35 balls... but Ben Sanderson sends in a yorker, no run.

Surrey need two sixes. Or a four and a six takes us to a Super Over.

Cameron Steel
Surrey all-rounder on Radio 5 Sports Extra

That is the first one that Sanderson has missed, and not by much.

Postpublished at 22:18 BST 3 September

22:18 BST 3 September

Surrey need 11 from three balls

An almighty six over deep mid-wicket from Sam Curran.

Surrey are alive.

Phil Rowe
BBC Radio Northampton

I think I am shaking.

I most certainly am.

They need boundaries, lots of them.

Ben Sanderson delivers, Curran clubs into the leg side, it stays in the air but drops short of the fielder. Two runs.

Ben Sanderson to bowl the final over, Sam Curran on strike on 58*...

First ball pulled away into the deep. Curran turns down the single.

David Willey returns for his final over, the 13th of 14 in this innings.

This could end up being skipper v skipper, Willey v Sam Curran, Northampton's finest going at it.

Two twos to start the over for Curran, who moves to 56* with some precision running between the creases.

A streaky leg-side single to point is just what Willey wanted from the third ball and fresh batter Chris Jordan can only dribble a full delivery past the bowler's dive for another single from the next.

Another brilliant full delivery is clipped to deep square by Curran for another single.

Jordan is on strike for the last ball, and needs something big here, he tries for the ropes off a full toss, sending the ball into the sky and after an eternity the diving Lewis McManus puts a tough running chance down.

Surrey run two.

Phil Rowe
BBC Radio Northampton

Willey v Curran - the two Northampton-born skippers facing off in a big 1-1 battle in the penultimate over.

They often kept each other out of the England side did these two.

This is good stuff from David Willey who has found his length, great yorkers right on his toes now.

Ben Sanderson has kept his side in this with some stifling bowling, mixing up his pace, and gets a stroke of luck too as a rank full toss isn't put away by Sam Curran.

It seems Northants made the cut-off time, by mere moments, as it's a shortened match. Big boost for the visitors.

Mark Church
BBC Radio London commentator

He has done really well, diving forward, a really good catch from Justin Broad.

Well bowled from Ben Sanderson too, he has held his nerve.

Chris Jordan has previous though, he has hit a six last ball of the innings to win a game twice before though.

50 for Sam Curranpublished at 22:04 BST 3 September

22:04 BST 3 September

Surrey 123-5- target 155 from 14 overs

Image source, Getty Images

His 12th Blast half-century, brought up from 26 balls with five fours and two sixes along the way.

The job is not done yet for the skipper, however.