Nasser Hussain - ton for Essex Photo CricInfo

England captain Nasser Hussain, making a rare appearance for his county Essex in the Benson and Hedges Cup quarter-final tie against Yorkshire at Chelmsford, put on a batting master class as his innings of 136 not out propelled his side to a seven-wicket victory with a full five overs to spare.

Hussain opened the innings looking positive and in prime form from the outset. He put on 51 with Darren Robinson for the first wicket, dominated a second wicket partnership worth 94 with John Stephenson, and then put on 55 with Andy Flower for the third wicket. Ronnie Irani was with him when he completed his 144-ball innings that contained 18 fours and a six.

There had only been 19 fours in the entire Yorkshire innings, based around a brave pinch-hitting display from Chris Silverwood who hit two sixes and seven of those fours in his 42-ball innings of 56. Darren Lehmann scored a more sedate 59, but there was little else of substance on the Yorkshire card as they reached 237 for nine in 50 overs.

Yorkshire could have done with the services of their former captain, David Byas, who steered his new side Lancashire to a four-wicket victory against Leicestershire at Grace Road. After Michael Bevan's 67 for the home team, there was no other score of note as the Lancashire bowlers put on a disciplined display that saw each of them bowl at least one maiden.

Byas then used all his experience to play the anchor role as Lancashire went after a potentially tricky target of 164. With wickets falling regularly, it was important for him to stay there and he did to face 148 balls. Byas was sixth out having scored 91, but by then Lancashire required only another 17 runs and Chris Schofield, in company with his captain Warren Hegg, hurried them along to their target.

Sussex had the misfortune to lose their captain Chris Adams to injury as he prepared for the tie against Warwickshire at Hove. With Richard Montgomerie and Tim Ambrose putting on 99 for the first wicket, it did not appear too serious a handicap. However, after Montgomerie had gone for 57, Murray Goodwin was out first ball and Ambrose received little support as he went on to become last man out for 87 with Warwickshire's bowlers keeping it admirably tight.

Sussex had scored 196 for seven in their fifty overs, but even that total suddenly took on greater magnitude as Warwickshire lost three quick wickets. Michael Powell, Shaun Pollock and Nick Knight were all back in the pavilion with a mere eight runs on the board, all falling to Robin Martin-Jenkins. With two more wickets falling before three figures were posted, it was left to Ian Bell, Dougie Brown and an interruption through rain to ease Sussex's grip. The sixth wicket pair put on 53 before Brown was out, but Neil Smith was in rollicking form while Bell went on maturely to 85 not out as his side recorded an exciting four-wicket success.

In the tie between Gloucestershire and Worcestershire held over from yesterday with the Gloucestershire innings standing at 193 for seven after 48.4 overs, heavy overnight rain prevented play in the morning session. When it did resume, Gloucestershire added another ten runs to their total, but the target proved to be well within Worcestershire's reach.

Australian Andy Bichel was sent in at the top of the order to give the innings some momentum, and was 94 not out when Worcestershire won by eight wickets. He put on 71 for the first wicket with Anurag Singh, before sharing a partnership of 127 with Graeme Hick who scored a fluent 66 as Worcestershire got home with more than eight overs in hand.

In the draw for the semi-finals, Worcestershire travel to meet Essex while Lancashire will be at home to Warwickshire. The ties are to be played on June 6th and 7th.

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