Essex Eagles fly into Vitality Blast Finals Day

Lancashire Lightning 159/5 lost to Essex Eagles 164/5 by 6 wickets

EAGLES FLY HIGH
Essex are off to Finals Day! With a difficult chase of 160 to win and wind and rain causing mischief throughout, Essex were made to work hard for their place at the summer showpiece. Following a disciplined stint with the ball, Cameron Delport got them off to a fast start with the bat before Ryan ten Doeschate and Ravi Bopara saw them home in style.

BOP IT LIKE IT'S HOT
Delport, Ten Doeschate and Bopara all made meaningful contributions in the Essex chase, but it was Ravi's biffing that sealed the deal. Coming in at 6, he smashed 39 off 18 balls including 4 sixes, to take the game away from Lancashire and ensure there wasn't any final over drama.

OUT OF THIS WORLD
In their pursuit of Essex wickets, Lancashire produced a couple of magical moments in the field. First Josh Bohannon ran Adam cheater out with a wonder throw, before James Faulkner produced this stunner in the deep to catch Dan Lawrence.

ICE COLD IN ALEX
Lancashire opener Alex Davies certainly deserved a couple of cool ones after his marvellous unbeaten knock of 80. On a tricky deck in blustery conditions, the 25-year-old carried his bat, quickly adapting to the pitch. Picking out gaps for twos and utilising his 360-degree hitting ability, Davies set Lancashire up with a decent total.

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