As they defeated Lancashire Lightning essex Eagles all-rounder Ravi Bopara steered his side to their original Vitality Blast Finals Day since 2013.
SCORECARD
The former England player struck an unbeaten 39 from 18 balls, sharing a partnership of 60 with skipper Ryan ten Doeschate (45 out of 31) to chase the Red Rose target using four deliveries to spare.
Lancashire opener Alex Davies had batted from 55 balls into their total of 159-5 during the 20 overs to get an undefeated 80 of his side – but it wasn’t sufficient for victory in their own quarter-final tie in Durham’s Riverside ground.
Put into bat on a slow pitch, and Lancashire found it tough to make headway after they lost Liam Livingstone (4) from the first over, bowled swinging across the line to Aaron Beard.
Bopara (2-28) consisted of Steven Croft (8) with his first ball and claimed the prize wicket of Glenn Maxwell (14), leg before to one which kept low – although the replay showed it could have missed leg stump.
However, Davies and Dane Vilas regrouped, together using rapid running between the wickets permitting them to post a partnership of 89 out of 67 balls and put the Lightning back on the right course.
Davies stayed employing the paddle and ramp shots to lift Lancashire over the 150 mark, although vilas, who registered the only six of the innings holed out for 41 off 36 balls.
Essex had received only 19 deliveries in reply, with Tom Westley (8) giving Saqib Mahmood a return catch, prior to the rain descended and forced a 25-minute delay.
Cameron Delport (44 out of 30) started to accelerate following the resumption, piercing the infield because he struck three boundaries off a James Faulkner over to haul Essex above the necessary run-rate.
However, the Lightning hit back with two wickets in consecutive balls – Delport caught at long-on giving Maxwell the fee until Josh Bohannon’s arrow arm from the deep ran out Adam Wheater (13).
Faulkner’s diving catch at long-off to dismiss Dan Lawrence (15) was even more spectacular – yet it paved the way for ten Doeschate and Bopara to combine forces for their match-winning venture.
Lancashire gambled by entrusting the penultimate over to bowler Bopara and Livingstone took advantage, smashing two sixes and adding another to secure the Eagles’ success.
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