Essex book final spot

Updated 19.45 Sat Jul 05 2008

Keywords: Essex, cricket, Alastair Cook

England opener Alastair Cook and big-hitter Graham Napier - plus a deadly spell from Ryan ten Doeschate - inspired Essex to reach their first Friends Provident Trophy final for 11 years via a 87-run success over Yorkshire.

Cook fell just five runs short of the third one-day century of his career as Essex amassed 285 for eight in their 50 overs at Chelmsford.

Cook fell just five runs short of the third one-day century of his career as Essex amassed 285 for eight in their 50 overs at Chelmsford

The left-hander, playing only his second game in the competition this season, made 95 off 127 balls with ten fours.

Some typically big-hitting in the latter stages from Napier, with 61 off 34 balls, set a total that proved out of reach for the Tykes as Essex set up a final against Kent on August 16.

Ten Doeschate wrecked the middle part of the Yorkshire innings with a three-wicket salvo to shatter Darren Gough's dreams of a Lord's swansong as the visitors were dismissed for 198 in the 43rd over. In all, they lost their last nine wickets for 58 runs in 13 overs.

Essex will now face Kent in the final on August 16.