Somerset will meet Kent and Yorkshire will play Surrey in the semi-finals of the Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy. Somerset and Surrey were today's winners as they knocked out Worcestershire and Sussex respectively.

Sussex's brave attempt to overhaul Surrey's daunting 337 for three foundered in the final over at Hove, as they reached 323 for eight, leaving Surrey victors by 14 runs. Sussex had two men to thanks for getting them so close – Murray Goodwin, who made an unbeaten 110 from 86 balls, and Richard Montgomerie, whose 88 at he top of the order had put them in with a shout. But mean bowling at the death from Saqlain Mushtaq, who took one for 49 in his ten overs, left them needing just a little too much to do.

Adam Hollioake was rightly named Man of the Match after hammering the Sussex attack as Surrey posted their total. The Surrey captain, who spoke movingly at his late brother Ben's thanksgiving service on Monday, earned a standing ovation after scoring 117 off just 52 balls. Hollioake dominated a 148-run stand with Mark Ramprakash in the last 15 overs. Ramprakash also reached a century at less than a run a ball. He'd made 76 when Hollioake walked in, but was just two overs ahead of his captain to three figures.

Hollioake hit five sixes and 11 fours in all, following another good stand of 141 between Ramprakash and Rikki Clarke, who made 55. Earlier Robin Martin-Jenkins had struck a double blow for Sussex, dismissing Ian Ward caught behind and Ali Brown held at mid-off. That brought in Ramprakash, who hit eight fours and a six from 103 balls in his unbeaten 107.

Meanwhile an excellent all-round display by Man-of-the-Match Keith Parsons carried Somerset to victory in today's other quarter-final against Worcestershire at Taunton. Parsons made 121 off just 100 deliveries as Somerset cruised past Worcestershire's total of 271, winning by four wickets with two and a half overs to spare. Parsons was supported by Michael Burns and Ian Blackwell, before a vital 47 from Rob Turner saw Somerset to the threshold of victory.

Somerset lost their captain and opening batsman Marcus Trescothick after he broke his left thumb fielding a fierce Graeme Hick drive earlier in the day. They also lost both openers early, Jamie Cox caught at slip driving at Andy Bichel, and Peter Bowler caught behind off Matt Mason playing a similar stroke.

But Parsons and Burns shared a third-wicket stand of 51 in only six overs until the latter was lbw to Stuart Lampitt. Blackwell then helped Parsons keep above the required rate until Blackwell was caught behind off David Leatherdale to end a 58-run stand. After Parsons himself was caught behind off Mason, Turner's knock kept Somerset on course until he was caught behind off Kabir Ali with Somerset just eleven short of victory. It was left to Keith Dutch and Matt Bulbeck to see them home.

Earlier Somerset restricted Worcestershire to 271 after they looked set for a massive total at 144 for two after 20 overs. Ben Smith made an unbeaten 85 to keep the visitors in business after Vikram Solanki and Graeme Hick had roasted Somerset early on.

Steffan Jones helped apply the brakes with three for 47, while Parsons and Burns both took two wickets. Jones had Stephen Peters lbw before Hick and Solanki took to veteran Paul Jarvis, who was playing only his second county match in two years. He went for 25 off two overs before he was permanently removed from the attack.

Parsons bowled Hick for a run-a-ball 39, Solanki pulled Burns to mid-on for 53, and Leatherdale was caught at point off Burns. Gareth Batty was taken in the same position by Jamie Cox, and Steve Rhodes went in similar fashion, after Andy Bichel had been run out by a direct hit from Cox at mid-wicket. It was left to Smith to shepherd the tail, with the opportunity for an impregnable total missed.

So Yorkshire meet Surrey on July 31st, while Somerset play Kent in the other semi-final the following day.

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