Finch smacks 58-ball county century

Powerful Australia opener Aaron Finch has slammed a 58-ball century in a destructive display of hitting in England's domestic T20 tournament.

Finch brought up his third career hundred in the shortest format, leading Surrey to a healthy total of 2-194 and ultimately an important 17-run victory over Sussex at The Oval on Sunday.

The 30-year-old took his tally from 67 to 97 in the space of one David Wiese over, the 18th of the innings. After a two off the first ball, Finch proceeded to send the South African's next four offerings for sixes, before adding a four off the final delivery for good measure.

"It was in the back of my mind to try and bat through because on that surface I knew I could do some damage at the end," Finch explained after the win, which leaves Surrey sixth in the competition's South Group and equal on points with five sides between third and seventh.

"I knew David Wiese was going to bowl slower deliveries into the wicket. He got them a touch too full and I was able to swing through the line, whereas a few overs before I was swinging like a rusty gate and couldn't make contact with them.

"That over really broke the game open for us.

"We seem to play our best cricket when our backs are against the wall. We have two games left and hopefully two wins will get us into the top four."

Finch formed a devastating opening partnership with Jason Roy, putting on 102 for the first wicket before the England limited-overs opener holed out for 50 off 33 balls.

Finch’s national teammate Moises Henriques chipped in with 15 from first drop for Surrey, as Finch cleared the ropes seven times to see him equal Mark Ramprakash's county record for the most sixes in an innings.

Sussex finished on 7-176 with opener Chris Nash doing best for the visitors with a 38-ball 53.

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Finch now sits fourth among the tournament's leading run-scorers with 435 runs from 10 games at an average of 48.33. 

His Bushrangers teammate Dan Christian meanwhile helped Nottinghamshire secure a finals berth in the North Group with a strong all-round showing against Worcestershire.

Christan, captain of the Outlaws in this year's T20 comeptition, struck 22 off 21 balls before snaring three crucial scalps in a low-scoring game at New Road as Notts claimed a tight 11-run win.

Sunday's T20 Blast results:

North Group

Durham 8-145 (P Coughlin 53) lost to Warwickshire 148-2 (E Pollock 52, D Sibley 51 no) by eight wickets at Durham.

Nottinghamshire 145 (A Hepburn 5-24) defeated Worcestershire 8-134 by 11 runs at New Road.

South Group

Gloucestershire 8-121 (J Porter 4-20) lost to Essex 7-122 by three wickets at Bristol. 

Glamorgan 183-6 (N Selman 66) defeated Somerset 182-6 (J Myburgh 87) by one run at Taunton.

Surrey 193-2 (A Finch 114 no, J Roy 50) defeated Sussex 176-7 (C Nash 53; G Batty 4-24) by 17 runs at The Oval.