FLt20 finals day: Essex's best chance yet - Ryan ten Doeschate

Ryan ten Doeschate is confident Essex can be crowned FLt20 champions for the first time at Edgbaston this Saturday.

The Netherlands all-rounder is in his 11th season at Chelmsford and has lost on Twenty20 finals day three times.

In fact, Essex have never won a game at the 20-over showpiece, losing their semi-finals in 2006, 2008 and 2010.

"We have the best chance to win since I came here, especially because you know one of the top three [batsmen] will score big," he told BBC Essex.

"The formula we have now just gives us the right balance."

Essex's opening pair Hamish Rutherford and Greg Smith as well as number three Owais Shah have contributed 766 runs between them in the competition this season.

But Ten Doeschate himself goes into Saturday's semi-final against Northants in a rich vein of form.

Having averaged 43 in his last five FLt20 innings, he hit an unbeaten 74 against Durham in Essex's most recent YB40 game.

"I wouldn't say I'm any more determined because of the three previous failures," the 33-year-old added.

"I'm pleased that I've been getting runs when the team's need it. I just hope I can continue and put in a meaningful performance that goes some way to us being successful."