Somerset and Sussex, both past winners of the Twenty20, made it through yesterday, but who will join them? First up tonight it was Yorkshire at home to Worcestershire. These two have almost the worst records in the T20 competition. Both of them have only reached the Quarters twice, and then lost both games, so for one team today saw them break new ground by entering finals day for the first time.
The favourites were indisputably Yorkshire. On paper their team was by far the stronger, and playing in front of a vocal local crowd was also going to give them the edge. Plus they had the best record of any side in the group stages, winning seven matches (more than any other) and finishing with 16 points. Worcestershire started well but tripped up towards the end and were lucky to sneak through as one of the best third placed teams.
So to the action.
Yorkshire won the toss and decided to bat
Yorkshire were the first team to choose to bat first, possibly based on the fact that the yesterday both matches were won by the side who set the score. Worcestershire made a good start however as Jaques was run out by miles in the first over with the score on 4-1.
Finally in the second over Root found the boundary, albeit between keeper and slip, but then opened up with a better shot for another 4. Boundaries started to come with regularity. The fourth over cost 13 runs and the fifth 16. By the end of the powerplay Yorkshire had 61-1 on the board and were in a very strong position.
Worcestershire though fought back through their captain, Mitchell, who brought himself on to bowl, applied some pressure and then had Gale (30) caught and bowled. The visitors immediately upped their game, fielding better and restricting Yorkshire's scoring chances. Bairstow then hit out but could only find Ali in the deep to add another low score (2) to a poor campaign, and leave the hosts on 74-3 after 9 overs.
Millar came to the crease and quickly took charge of the situation and with Joe Root started to rebuild. They brought up the hundred in the 12th over, but then chose to see Mitchell off as the bowler finished with 2 for 23 from his 4 overs.
Root brought up his half century from 36 balls, already his career best score. The 21 year old then tucked into Kapil's first over, taking 18 off the first 5 balls before going for one big shot too many and being caught eventually by the bowler for 65, which beat his previous best by 19.
After another slow over went by before Yorkshire began to find their rhythm again, with both batsmen hitting 6s, and the 17th over going for 26 to lift the home side to 166-4. Millar brought up his 50 from just 23 deliveries but was caught two balls later with adding any more. The pace didn't drop however as Pyrah opened up with a maximum.
Ballance kept the runs coming and finished strongly hitting four 6s in the final over to take Yorkshire past 200. He finished on 46* (from 20 balls with five 6s) and Yorkshire on 212, far more than they looked like getting after 13 overs.
Ali scored 17 at the top of the order but both he and Solanki were dismissed inside the first three overs as Yorkshire pressed their advantage. Cameron (29) and Hughes built quickly and when Cameron was caught they'd added 75 in 8 overs to even the game. Andrew hit two sixes in his 27 from 17 balls but was caught in fantastic fashion. Going for another six Root reached over the rope, caught the ball and threw it to Ballance before stepping over the boundary.
The rate had climbed significantly by now and the match was just about beyond Worcestershire. Hughes continued a fine innings and finished not out with 80 from 53 balls but the visitors fell well short in the end. Starc took 3 for 24 from his 4 overs as Yorkshire won by 29 runs.
Result
Yorkshire: 212-5. Root 60, Mitchell 2 for 23
Worcestershire: 183-6. Hughes 80, Starc 3 for 24
Yorkshire win by 29 runs
Star Player: Root steals it with an excellent innings of power an judgement.
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