Brentwood Sport
Walker and Pettini fire Essex to semis
10:51am Thursday 29th July 2010
Essex captain James Foster is not overawed by the prospect of facing Hampshire at their Rose Bowl venue on Friends Provident t20 finals day.
The Eagles beat Lancashire by eight wickets at Chelmsford in a thrilling match on Tuesday night to book their place in the last four – and were promptly drawn against Hampshire.
Essex have already beaten the Hawks twice in the competition this season, but Foster is putting no stock in that.
“We’re just happy to be there,” Foster told Sky Sports 1. “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.”
Mark Pettini and Matt Walker were the heroes in the quarter-final clash, coming together after Ravi Bopara had fallen cheaply in the third over as they shared a stand of 147 in 15 overs.
At one point the required run-rate reached two per ball, but the small Chelmsford ground – and some decidedly ropey Lancashire fielding, helped the home cause.
Pettini struck 81 from 56 balls with the help of seven fours and one six, while the reliable Walker plundered four sixes among his eight boundaries in making an unbeaten 74 from 49 deliveries. That allowed Essex to surpass a daunting looking Lancashire total of 183 for six with five balls to spare, with Foster smashing 16 in only five balls to see them home in front of a boisterous Chelmsford crowd.
“It’s a great feeling,” Foster said.
“The Essex crowd all tournament have been superb and today we really needed them. They helped us.
“Pettini and Walker were outstanding. To be there at the end was really nice.”
In the day’s other game, England international Craig Kieswetter produced a timely return to form as Somerset crushed Northamptonshire by seven wickets to book a semi-final against Nottinghamshire.
The one-day wicketkeeper hit 33 off 28 balls, with a six and four fours, to help his side chase down a simple target of 113 with three overs to spare.
Peter Trego (30) and James Hildreth (25 not out) were the other main contributors. Northants shot themselves in the foot with three run-outs after winning the toss.