GLOUCESTERSHIRE'S outside chances of making the T20 Blast last eight stages came to an end in a great but low-scoring thriller at Surrey's Kia Oval on Thursday night.

Surrey just about held their nerve to land a two-wicket win.

Gloucestershire's fate was effectively sealed by teenager Sam Curran  who bowled a triple wicket maiden and sent back the visiting top four in the space of nine balls as Gloucestershire posted a modest 130 for nine.

Surrey’s Aaron Finch hit the first ball of the reply from Graeme van Buuren for six over long-off but, in trying to repeat the dose against Craig Miles, holed out to deep backward square to go for seven.

Jason Roy took up the cudgel but his travails continued when he spooned a Miles slower ball to mid-wicket to leave with Surrey on 23 for two.

Moises Henriques and Rory Burns took time to play themselves in as Surrey mustered only 35 from the powerplay, but, with seven to his name Burns chipped to deep mid-wicket to crank up further pressure on Surrey’s middle order.

With 62 still needed for victory Ollie Pope (16) sliced to point to be superbly caught overhead and one-handed by Kieran Noema-Barnett and give underrated all-rounder Benny Howell a deserved second scalp.

Fifth-wicket partners Henriques and Sam Curran took the run-rate equation to 40 off the last five overs only for Henriques (45) to run himself out attempting a second run against an excellent throw from Ian Cockbain running in from long on.

Rikki Clarke marched in and eased the short-term burden by slogging six into the Peter May Stand against David Payne as 13 came off the 17th over but, with 15 to his name, Clarke set off for a suicidal single to be run out by Miles.

With 15 needed Sam Curran (12) was bowled around his legs by a Miles yorker when looking to paddle leg-side then Stuart Meaker worked across the line to be skittled by Payne.

Eight were required when Payne overstepped to concede two runs for a free hit that Gareth Batty smeared through extra cover for two. Batty then stole the strike to win it with a leg-glanced boundary.

Gloucestershire, batting first after winning the toss, made a decent start though veteran left-hander Phil Mustard (9) and his skipper Michael Klinger (11) who appeared to settle nicely into their work on the Kia Oval’s Test match pitch.

Surrey, however, who were without Mark Stoneman on England duty and the injured Tom Curran (back), threw the new ball to left-arm seamer Sam Curran whose triple-wicket maiden turned the powerplay on its head.

The 19-year-old struck in his second over, the fourth of the night, by having Klinger caught at mid-on off a skied pull. Two deliveries later Mustard was sent packing when Curran plucked out his off pole with an in-swinger then Cameron Bancroft dragged his first delivery onto off-and-middle to make it 20 for three.

Howell survived the hat-trick ball but soon lost Cockbain (16) when he mistimed another slow ball bouncer in Curran’s next over high to mid-on.

Howell and Noema-Barnett took the visitors to their 50 with a Howell six into the pavilion off Borthwick, then Noema-Barnett slog swept a brace of sixes over mid-wicket against off-spinner Gareth Batty to help his side reach 75 for four at the innings mid-point.

A stunning throw and direct hit by Roy swooping in from backward point ran out Noema-Barnett (24), then Howell (15) skied to cover off a leading edge to make it 80 for six and gift Batty a wicket.

Curran returned to complete his four-overs with T20 career-best figures of four for 13 as Gloucestershire limped into three figures by the 17th over.

Van Buuren and top-scorer Jack Taylor (28) added some late impetus with 36-run stand until bowler Rikki Clarke followed through to run out van Buuren (13) at the striker’s end and Taylor holed out to long off.