Bopara ends Middlesex's quarter-final hopes
Friday, 06 Jul 2007 21:53
Mark Pettini captained Essex after replacing Ronnie Irani this week
Ravi Bopara produced a stunning all-round display to steer Essex to a three-wicket win over Middlesex in the Twenty20 Cup at Lords.
The England star, who recently came back from a hamstring injury, took 2-22 as the hosts were reduced to 126-9.
Bopara then top-scored with an unbeaten 46 as Essex chased down their total with one ball to spare to end Middlesex's quarter-final dreams.
Elsewhere, Kent sealed their place in the last eight with a six-wicket win over Surrey at the Oval.
After the hosts chose to bat, they were skittled out for 145 with Mark Ramprakash top-scoring with 33. Yasir Arafat and Simon Cook took three wickets apiece for the Spitfires.
Darren Stevens made an unbeaten 46 as Kent passed their target with five balls in hand, ending Surrey's hopes of qualifying.
Sussex clinched a home tie in the last eight after beating Hampshire by 73 runs at Hove.
Luke Wright whacked 98 off just 48 balls while Murray Goodwin hit 45 as the Sharks made 205-5.
The Hawks made just 132-8 in their 20 overs with James Kirtley starring with the ball, taking 4-22.
Yorkshire went through to the last eight by squeezing past Derbyshire by four wickets at Headingley Carnegie.
After reducing the visitors to 119-7, Anthony McGrath (32) helped Yorkshire pass their target with nine balls remaining.
Worcestershire booked their spot in the quarters with a 13-run win against Warwickshire at Edgbaston.
After winning the toss and choosing to bat, Vikram Solanki's side made a modest 143-5 with Phil Jacques hitting 38 off 28 balls.
But Daryl Mitchell took three wickets while Kabir Ali finished with 2-24 as the hosts were restricted to 130-8 after their 20 overs.
Gloucestershire beat Glamorgan by six wickets at Bristol while Northamptonshire went down to an eight-wicket loss to Somerset at Northampton.
Lancashire reached the Twenty20 quarter-finals after their final group game against Leicestershire was rained off.
Last year's runners-up, Nottinghamshire, sealed a home draw in the last eight after their game against Durham also fell victim to the weather.