AARON Finch is back to spearhead a Surrey revival in the Vitality Blast.

Defeats by Middlesex and Kent made it a disappointing start for Jade Dernbach’s side, but the absence of so many key batsmen meant a sluggish opening to the T20 competition was always possible.

Although Jason Roy remains on England duty, the return of Finch – plus Australian compatriot Nic Maddinson – should give Surrey a great deal more firepower for their two matches in as many nights, taking on Essex at the Kia Oval today (Thursday) followed by Sussex at Hove 24 hours later.

Finch, captain of Australia in the game’s shortest format, broke his own record for the highest T20 score when he smashed 172 against Zimbabwe in Harare last week – surpassing the 156 for which he took England’s bowlers five years ago – which restored his world number one ranking.

Surrey’s batting lacked depth, although they fought hard in the South Group opener against Middlesex at Lord’s last Thursday.

Rikki Clarke’s 50 was the best of their 158-6 after electing to bat. Irishman Paul Stirling then followed up his three cheap wickets by hammering 66 in 36 balls for Middlesex. His departure in the tenth over, at 89-2, started a slide of four wickets for one run in seven balls, but Aussie Hilton Cartwright (38) and James Fuller (18no) saw the hosts to victory with an over to spare.

Joe Denly became the first player to score a century and take a hat-trick in any form of limited-overs match as Kent squeezed home by six runs at The Oval on Friday. Surrey were bitterly disappointed to lose a match they appeared to be coasting. Denly’s 102 from 63 balls, which included 12 fours and two sixes, took Kent to 173-6. It might have been more, but for seamer Mat Pillans claiming 3-22 in four overs at the death.

Surrey were coasting when they finished the powerplay – the first six overs – at 71-1 and looked certain victors while Rory Burns (39) and Ben Foakes were adding 85 for the second wicket in less than eight overs. Leg-spinner Denly transformed the match with his treble strike in the 13th over. Rikki Clarke (11) was stumped, youngster Jamie Smith trapped in front and Pillans top-edged an easy catch for wicketkeeper Sam Billings.

Foakes could only watch in horror as the rest folded, left 75 not out with seven balls unused.

Club captain Burns’s prolific form – he is leading scorer in the Specsavers County Championship Division One – has finally been recognised by the national selectors. The left-hander, whose 722 runs at 65 include two centuries, is included in the England Lions squad to take on Pakistan A over four days at Worcester from Monday.

Joining him in the side are team-mates Ollie Pope, the rising 20-year-old who has scored 654 runs at 93, and all-rounder Sam Curran, who made his Test debut last month.

Alec Stewart, Surrey’s director of cricket, has been pressing the claims of Burns, who has reached 1,000 first-class runs for the past four seasons. “It’s been a long time coming for him to be recognised at a higher level,” said Stewart.