Summary

  • Holders Birmingham Bears win by 24 runs

  • Birmingham join Northants at Finals Day on 29 August

  • Bears 189-5 (Evans 50, Woakes 48no)

  • Essex 165-6 (Westley 33, Bopara 32)

Live Reporting

Adam Williams

  1. Birmingham 23-1 (4 overs)

    All of the things that made Essex a dangerous draw on paper are already being shown with the guile of their bowling attack.

    Richard Wilford, BBC WM 95.6

  2. Bell departs for 7

    Birmingham Bears 20-1 (3 overs)

    That was a slower ball that slightly did him in the flight. Ian Bell's toed it and unfortunately this is the game - in T20, you've got to get after the ball.

    Jonathan Trott, Birmingham Bears batsman on BBC 5 live sports extra

  3. Birmingham 11-0 (1 over)

    From an Essex point of view, that's an expensive first over.

    Don Topley, BBC Essex

    Don, a former Essex player, is commentating on his son Reece for BBC Essex this evening. Should be interesting listening.

  4. We played some good cricket this time last year. It's been a tough season so far, our four-day form has been a little bit up and down, but hopefully we can get across the line.

    Jonathan Trott, Birmingham Bears batsman on BBC 5 live sports extra

  5. Weather update

    It's stopped raining now and it's looking a lot brighter overhead, so we won't start at half past six but the hope is that we might have the toss at half past six and we won't be too delayed.

    Chris Coles, BBC WM 95.6