Essex set up Hampshire tie(28-Jul-2010)
Match-winning contributions from Mark Pettini and Matt Walker inspired Essex to reach Friends Provident t20 Finals Day with an eight-wicket win over Lancashire at Chelmsford late on Tuesday night.
With the semi-final draw made immediately after the match, Essex will now play hosts Hampshire at the Rose Bowl on August 14th while Nottinghamshire take on Somerset.
Batting first, Lancashire recovered from losing Stephen Moore off the very first ball of the innings to reach 183-6 off their 20 overs. Paul Horton top-scored with 44 while Chris Wright took 4-25.
However, opener Pettini (81) and Walker (74 not out) made up for the early loss of Ravi Bopara and their second-wicket partnership of 147 helped the hosts over the line with five balls to spare.
Lancashire got contributions right down the order, but their total always looked reachable among the short boundaries at Chelmsford.
The visitors got off to the worst possible start when Moore was trapped lbw to David Masters, but Tom Smith and Steven Croft soon set about repairing the damage.
They added 42 for the second wicket before Croft, who scored 27 in 18 balls, fell to Wright, caught by Tim Phillips.
Phillips then took the ball and removed Smith, but after that it was Wright who starred, removing Horton (44 off 30), Saj Mahmood (34 off 17) and Gareth Cross.
A limping Glen Chapple struck an unbeaten 28 off 14 to boost the Lancashire total, and they appeared on top when Bopara was caught behind off the Lancashire skipper early in Essex's reply.
But Pettini and Walker then took over - the latter striking four big sixes - and they were largely untroubled as Essex moved to the brink of victory.
When Pettini eventually fell, impressively bowled by Mahmood, skipper James Foster came in to banish any nerves and coolly hit 16 off just five balls to see his side home.
Foster shrugged off the prospect of playing Hampshire on their home turf, telling Sky Sports 1: "We're just happy to be there. Hampshire are a very good team. We were successful both times (in the group stage) but I'm sure that will mean nothing.
"Ultimately it's all about who deals with the pressure on the day."
Foster also said he enjoyed claiming a key win in front of his home crowd.
"It's a great feeling," he said. "The Essex crowd all tournament have been superb and today we really needed them. They helped us.
"Pettini and Walker were outstanding today. And to be there at the end was really, really nice."
With the semi-final draw made immediately after the match, Essex will now play hosts Hampshire at the Rose Bowl on August 14th while Nottinghamshire take on Somerset.
Batting first, Lancashire recovered from losing Stephen Moore off the very first ball of the innings to reach 183-6 off their 20 overs. Paul Horton top-scored with 44 while Chris Wright took 4-25.
However, opener Pettini (81) and Walker (74 not out) made up for the early loss of Ravi Bopara and their second-wicket partnership of 147 helped the hosts over the line with five balls to spare.
Lancashire got contributions right down the order, but their total always looked reachable among the short boundaries at Chelmsford.
The visitors got off to the worst possible start when Moore was trapped lbw to David Masters, but Tom Smith and Steven Croft soon set about repairing the damage.
They added 42 for the second wicket before Croft, who scored 27 in 18 balls, fell to Wright, caught by Tim Phillips.
Phillips then took the ball and removed Smith, but after that it was Wright who starred, removing Horton (44 off 30), Saj Mahmood (34 off 17) and Gareth Cross.
A limping Glen Chapple struck an unbeaten 28 off 14 to boost the Lancashire total, and they appeared on top when Bopara was caught behind off the Lancashire skipper early in Essex's reply.
But Pettini and Walker then took over - the latter striking four big sixes - and they were largely untroubled as Essex moved to the brink of victory.
When Pettini eventually fell, impressively bowled by Mahmood, skipper James Foster came in to banish any nerves and coolly hit 16 off just five balls to see his side home.
Foster shrugged off the prospect of playing Hampshire on their home turf, telling Sky Sports 1: "We're just happy to be there. Hampshire are a very good team. We were successful both times (in the group stage) but I'm sure that will mean nothing.
"Ultimately it's all about who deals with the pressure on the day."
Foster also said he enjoyed claiming a key win in front of his home crowd.
"It's a great feeling," he said. "The Essex crowd all tournament have been superb and today we really needed them. They helped us.
"Pettini and Walker were outstanding today. And to be there at the end was really, really nice."