It's the final countdown!

So sung Bon Jovi some twenty odd years ago. I'm sure they won't object to my half-inching their song title for this blog post. And, just to try something a little different, today I am going to be blogging live and adding my thoughts as the game progresses, whilst keeping a keen-eye turned to the the Middlesex and Hants games. As two of our number aren't especially Surrey supporters - in fact not remotely - one a Middlesex fan and the other a Hants fan, it's going to make for an interesting afternoon! But, whatever happens in terms of that last qualification spot, at least somebody is going to be happy with the outcome today!

May the best teams win, and good luck to all!

But especially Surrey, Sussex and Essex... (sorry, couldn't resist)!

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Gladiators have been stuck in by the Lions. Symonds bowling first. Think we need to get Porterfield out quickly. Pitch playing slowly. 4-0 in the first over.

Middlesex 1-1 in their first over!

Tremlett gets Redmond!!! Woohoooo! 12-1 in the second over! He's a good boy, that Chris Tremlett.

Gidman looking frisky now! Both batsmen very dangerous. 22-1 at the moment. Wonderwoman has turned up in the crowd. Could do with her superpowers! Oh, and the Ghostbusters! I'm afraid I'd have to go dressed as the Stay Pufft Marshmallow Man.

Gidman swings the bat and the first 6 goes hurtling out of sight.

32-1 and Gladiators starting to motor a little. Need a wicket quick-smart.

And no sooner said than done! Gidman gone for 15! 36-2, and well done Mr Tremlett!

Nel aims at the stumps and nearly gets Franklyn. Think he's been taking my advice regarding lobbing grenades.

40-2 after the 6th over. Spriegel coming in to the attack. Come on the 'spin doctor'!

50 comes up in the 7th over. 51-2 and a good over for the Gladiators.

Shah has gone for Middlesex. They are 56-2 in the 6th over.

Porterfield is looking mighty good! Eeeeek! Surrey could do without this at the moment, but the Gladiators (I keep wanting to call them Gladioli) aren't going to lie down and die. 82-2 after 10 overs.

Middlesex 73-3.

I'm missing the trumpeter. I like the tootling to signal a change of bowler!

Yippppeeeee! Porterfield goes! 89-3, with Hamilton-Brown taking a good catch. Thank the lord!

Warner gone for Middlesex. Essex doing okay so far.

Taylor gone for 1! That's two in the last two overs. Fab-u-lous, as Craig Revel-Horwood would say. 91-4 for Surrey.

Dent bowled for 1! 97-5! Unfortunate for Dent: looks like his bat got stuck in the turf and the ball went between the bat and pad, hitting the stumps. Very good news for Surrey!

Hants have lost Jimmy Adams, this is even better for Surrey!

98-6! Snell just gone! Well done Nella!

101-6 in the 14th over. Nails are being bitten.

Good outfield cricket from Surrey. 108-6 in the 15th.

Franklyn gone for 33! Run out! Good arm from Wilson. 155-7 now.

Andre Nel does a pirouette. Rampants may start 'Gunther for Strictly' campaign.

Oops...Spriegel has a ball bobble on him and it goes for 4. Dawson going nicely now.

134-7 in the 18th over. This might be a tricky ask for Surrey after all.

143-7. Not what Surrey would have wanted. Hope RHB and Davies have their batting heads on today.

Lewis gone for 13. 144-8. Tremlett strikes again!

Kirby goes first ball, run-out by Tremlett!

147-9 posted by the Gladiators: 148 for the Lions to win. Middlesex have posted 173, which will take some catching by Essex! Time for a cup of tea!

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Scary biscuits time: hold on to your hats folks! Here goes with the Surrey reply.

RHB only knows one way to play...hoping it works for him today. He won't die wondering, that's for sure! 6-0 after the first over.

Hampshire looking ominous, especially given that Sussex have not done so well in their last few games. 196 for Sussex to win.

Davies nearly gone but it just snuck past Porterfield. And now hits a six to clear his mind.

20 off the second over! Surrey need Davies to stay forever, basically, and help get that run-rate down.

Ramps not playing, btw. Sad for the Rampants, but I guess it means we can listen to the game without tensing up like a coiled spring! Davies hits another 6: he's got the bit between his teeth and no mistake!

And again! 39 without loss! Sixes gallore!

Free hit...where's the skipper putting this? Swing and a miss. Oh, well! Let's not be greedy!

The 50 comes up without loss in the fourth over.

54 without loss. The skipper beginning to get his head down. And then a further boundary! So far, it's a dismantling in the powerplay. 60 without loss.

67 without loss after five overs! Wow! Uh-oh...here come the spinners. And I'm not talking about the 70s folk group. Even I would face up to them.

Good point made by Churchy and JB: Surrey have nothing to lose. All they have to do is win, and win in the best way they can. They can do nothing about the other results, and they are indeed playing without fear. It's the only way to do it.

78 without loss at the end of the powerplay is very good indeed!

'Demolition Davies' brings up a fabulous fifty with a six! Wooohooo!

Why the flip did we not play like this against the Gladiators at the Oval?!?

RHB and Davies are having a contest to see who can hit the longest six! 99-0!

Hundred up in the 8th over! 106 in fact. Davies will surely find himself in the England team opening the batting at some point. This is a really classy display! At this rate we might not get to find out if the team is missing Ramps in the middle order.

RHB winning the battle of the sixes at the moment. Rory, size isn't everything! And as I say that, he's lbw for 48. Pity he didn't reach his 50. Now, Roy or Symonds next?

Jason Roy comes on next. Will it be a good day or a bad day for him?

Answer: bad day. 112-2. Roy gone second ball. Ooops.

Symonds dropped by Snell. Hoping Symo the animal has turned up today. We could do with him in a rampaging mood!

Symonds goes for 4. 123-3...please get Davies on strike!!! Please!!!

Johnny Barran wins first prize for non-gratuitous use of the word 'humping'.

Not looking good in the other games for Surrey. Essex struggling, Sussex struggling. And now it's raining for good measure.

Only 13 runs required, and then they have to sit and twiddle their thumbs to see what happens elsewhere.

Davies gone for 73.

Wilson clubs a meaty six with his first ball. Only 6 required now. Wilson gets 4 more...

Gary Wilson smashes a total of 12 off three balls. Lions win by six wickets! Well done boys, whatever happens. 150-4! You were meteoric today!

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So close in the end. Surrey did all they needed to do, but so did Hants. We shouldn't have to rely on other teams to do us favours, although Sussex have been rubbish in the last few games compared to how they started, so it shouldn't surprise us. So, congrats to Hants and hard luck to Surrey and Middlesex.

Now it's back to the county championship next week!