Max Holden hits his first ball for four. That is the only way to bat on this strip.

Sunil Narine's off-breaks instil a touch of calm as Middlesex only take eight runs from the over.

A superb powerplay for the batting side.

They need 170 more runs from 14 overs.

for Stephen Eskinazipublished at 5.2 overs

5.2 overs

Surrey 252-7 v Middlesex 76-0

Stephen Eskinazi scampers a single off Sunil Narine and that brings up his half century.

He has only needed 21 balls. In comparison, Will Jacks took 28 and Laurie Evans, 27.

Image source, Getty Images

The ball is thrown to Will Jacks for some of his off spinners.

It's a smart call by Chris Jordan as Jacks gives up only eight runs from it as Joe Cracknell lofts one over mid-on for four off the last delivery.

Sam Curran swaps ends and almost has a wicket first ball but Jamie Overton can't hang on low at deep square.

Stephen Eskinazi drills one straight for another four. And another rockets to the fence. And from the final ball, he sends a short ball from Curran for another four.

15 off the over. This is carnage!

This pitch is a batter's paradise; more of a nightmare if you're a bowler, however!

Adam Lyth is going along nicely for Yorkshire Vikings, who need 181 to overcome North Group leaders Birmingham Bears.

The left-hander is 28 from 22 balls for the Vikings, who have lost Dawid Malan (13) and James Wharton (4) during the powerplay overs.

Will Buttleman and Simon Harmer may just have tilted the contest at Chelmsford in Essex's favour.

Buttleman smashed 31 from 14 balls, with Harmer hitting 25 from 11 to lift their side to 184 all out against Kent Spitfires.

At Bristol, Sussex Sharks openers Harrison Ward and Tom Clark seem to be making short work of this 141 target against Gloucestershire - they've reached 57 without loss after five overs.

up for Middlesexpublished at 3 overs

3 overs

Surrey 252-7 v Middlesex 52-0

Gus Atkinson is thrown the ball and his first two balls are down leg and Joe Cracknell helps himself to two fours.

And Cracknell sends the final ball over midwicket. That shot would not be out of place when Major League Baseball comes to London!

16 off the over and the Middlesex 50 is up.

Sean Abbott to bowl. He begins with a wide.

There's a lovely buzz in this big Oval crowd. They would love some fireworks in this Middlesex chase.

And they are getting them. Stephen Eskinazi has started beautifully. Four, four, six for him! Dropped in the crowd though, poor fielding sir!

And then four off the final ball.

Eskinazi has 34 already. Middlesex going at 18 an over!

Stephen Eskinazi begins with a forward defensive! That won't get you to 253!!

But boundaries from the next two balls is better.

A dot, four and a fourth four to finish.

16 off the over. Middlesex need 19 more overs like that!

Middlesex captain Stephen Eskinazi to face Same Curran.

Away we go in search of 253 runs from just 120 runs.

Adam Hose and Ed Pollock's unbeaten partnership of 60 from 42 balls steers the Rapids home and that means they leapfrog Notts into the top two of the North Group.

Now it's all eyes on Headingley. If Yorkshire Vikings can chase down their target of 181 against Birmingham Bears, there will be four teams all level on points at the top of the table.

Big wicket for Kent Spitfires, with Wes Agar getting rid of Dan Lawrence for 52 at Chelmsford and Essex are 140-6 with four overs of their innings remaining.

Sussex Sharks are under way at Bristol - they're 12-0 after two overs, chasing 141 to beat Gloucestershire.

When Laurie Evans and Will Jacks were in full flow, anything seemed possible.

Their 177-run partnership was magical, but both perished short of a maximum and wickets tumbled regularly in the last few overs.

It is STILL a massive score, but it is not even Surrey's best of the season.

That was the 258-6 against Sussex at Hove, but it is their best ever at The Oval.

Final over.

And Chris Jordan hits a one-handed six. That is no.15 of the innings!

And he ends the innings with no.16 as he swipes one over midwicket - that is a massive hit.

A fitting way to wrap up Surrey's 20 overs!

Worcestershire Rapids need cool heads and at the moment Adam Hose and Ed Pollock are providing just that.

The pair have put on 31 to lift their side from 80-5 and they need 29 from 24 balls to beat Notts Outlaws.

Group leaders Birmingham Bears will be defending 180-7 against Yorkshire Vikings, with Rob Yates eventually run out off the last ball of their innings for 66.

Image source, Rex Features

Dan Lawrence has struck his second half-century in three games to help Essex recover against Kent Spitfires, sharing a stand with Matt Critchley that brought them 57 and the home side are 121-5 in the 14th over.

Sussex Sharks will need 141 to beat Gloucestershire and keep their tournament alive after bowling the hosts out with four balls unused.

Ari Karvelas rounded the innings by dismissing Matt Taylor for 23 and he finished with figures of 4-20, following leg-spinner Shadab Khan's 4-27.

Of course, we were joking about a collapse but Surrey have been slowed up.

Ryan Higgins gives up just three runs from a fine over.