Chelmsford side will face winner of Central Group in five-day final at Lord's later this month
Tuesday 8 September 2020 20:29, UK
Unbeaten Essex confirmed their place in the Bob Willis Trophy final as South Group winners with an emphatic nine-wicket victory over Middlesex.
Sir Alastair Cook (21), Paul Walter (20no) and Tom Westley (10no) knocked off the 53 runs required in 13.5 overs after Sam Cook (3-28), Aaron Beard (4-21) and Simon Harmer (3-54) claimed the final four wickets as Middlesex were bowled out for 150 at Chelmsford.
Essex's spot at Lord's was cemented when Derbyshire failed to get a batting point in their North Group fixture against Lancashire - which was met by cheers from the Essex dressing room.
It meant Derbyshire could only match Essex's 90 points, if they managed to win at Aigburth, but due to their inferior win record they would miss out.
Therefore, Essex will face the winner of the Central Group - either Somerset or Worcestershire - in a five-day match at Lord's starting on September 23.
The identity of their opponents remains in the balance after 20-year-old opener Tom Lammonby became the youngest Somerset player to carry his bat as the visitors set Worcestershire a tricky target of 245 for victory at New Road.
Lammonby's undefeated 107 anchored Somerset's second innings as they clambered to 193 all out, despite Ed Barnard's figures of 4-25.
Lewis Gregory then removed Worcestershire openers Daryl Mitchell (3) and Jake Libby (23) before the home side advanced to 58-2 at stumps - needing another 187 on the final day to book their place at Lord's.
North Group leaders Derbyshire saw their hopes of reaching the final all but disappear against Lancashire at Aigburth.
Lancashire vs Derbyshire scorecard
The visitors fell just short of a batting point as they were all out for 195, with a determined eighth-wicket stand of 102 between Harvey Hosein (84) and Mattie McKiernen (31), before Lancashire openers Keaton Jennings (81) and Alex Davies (86) helped set the hosts on to 312-6 by stumps, a lead of 336.
Yorkshire's hopes of progress, meanwhile, were scuppered despite closing in on victory over Leicestershire at Headingley.
The hosts were bowled out for 252 as they looked to reach 400 in their first-innings reply to Leicester's 124 - a score which would have given them hope of also reaching the 90-point tally.
Yorkshire had slipped to 46-4 before a sixth-wicket partnership of 116 between Jonny Tattersall (71) and Jordan Thompson (62) helped steady the innings.
By stumps, Leicestershire were 78-5, still 50 runs behind, after Jordan Thompson took three wickets for 13 before bad light stopped play.
England batsman Zak Crawley recovered from his first-innings duck with a knock of 105 to steer Kent to a seven-wicket victory over Hampshire at Canterbury.
Hampshire youngster Tom Scriven (68) completed his maiden half-century as he top-scored with 68, but Harry Podmore (5-43) and Darren Stevens (4-35) mopped up the tail as the visitors were bowled out for 159 in their second innings.
That left Kent to chase 181 for victory and Crawley's second-wicket partnership of 157 with Marcus O'Riordan (52no) ensured they got there, with Heino Kuhn (11no) hammering Mason Crane for six to finish proceedings.
Former England batsman Ian Bell marked his final first-class innings with a fine knock of 90 as Warwickshire set Glamorgan 331 to win their Central Group match at Sophia Gardens.
The 38-year-old five-time Ashes winner, set to retire at the end of the 2020 domestic season, helped Warwickshire reach 347-7 declared - Dan Mousley struck his maiden Championship half-century before being caught for 71 late on.
Left-arm spinner Dan Moriarty boosted Surrey hopes of their first win in the competition as he produced career-best figures of 6-60 to reduce Sussex to 109-9 in their second innings at The Oval
Moriarty - who took five wickets in Sussex's first innings - tore through the visitors' batting for a second time, supported by fellow spinner Amar Virdi (3-31) to leave them 136 ahead with just one wicket standing.
Earlier, an unbeaten 84 from Will Jacks, who put on 112 for the seventh wicket with debutant Jamie Overton (55), enabled Surrey to total 388 in their first innings, a deficit of just 27.
Durham edged in front of Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge. Notts vs Durham scorecard
Ben Duckett (150) and Joe Clarke (133) had both made centuries as the hosts were bowled out for 422 - losing their last five wickets for only 15 runs, with Chris Rushworth returning figures of 7-108.
In reply, Durham were 131-2 at stumps, a lead of three - Michael Jones was 39 not out after Sean Dickson had made 56.
