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Napier fires Essex into last four

07/07/2008

Essex completed a near perfect few days with a comprehensive destruction of Northamptonshire, winning by 59 runs in the Twenty20 Cup quarter-finals at Chelmsford.

On Saturday, Graham Napier fired Essex into final of the Friends Provident Trophy, and the 28-year-old was once again the hero as hit an explosive 40 runs from 20 balls which included three sixes and three fours.

Ravi Bopara was also prominent, scoring 47 from 16 balls as the home side registered a score of 192-9 from their 20 overs.

Napier's contribution wasn't just confined to the bat as he took figures of 4-10 with the ball as Northamptonshire made a 115-7 chasing a total which always seemed beyond them.

Were it not for a resolute 58 not out from Northants captain Nicky Boje then the score-line would have had even more of a one-sided feel.