Postpublished at 21:34 British Summer Time 4 September 2019
Kate Cross
England seam bowler on BBC 5 Live Sports Extra
This is like the Lancashire innings, Essex are going to have to start rebuilding.
Summary
Essex beat Lancashire by six wickets in first T20 Blast quarter-final
Ravi Bopara's 39 off 18 balls features four sixes as Essex won with four balls to spare
Alex Davies had made unbeaten 80 off 55 balls as Lancashire scored 159-5
Essex through to Finals Day at Edgbaston on 21 September
Postpublished at 21:34 British Summer Time 4 September 2019
WICKETpublished at 8.2 overs
Wheater run out 13 (Essex 66-3)
Oh my! Get one, get two!
Adam Wheater shows an equal level of brainless thought by running himself out the very next ball.
Tries to take on the fielder on the legside for a couple and is run out by a direct hit.
They head off for a brief interruption through a shower but Dan Lawrence is out there now at five with a very different task on his hands for Essex.
Postpublished at 21:31 British Summer Time 4 September 2019
Kate Cross
England seam bowler on BBC 5 Live Sports ExtraThat might be the dumbest bit of cricket I have ever seen.
WICKETpublished at 8.1 overs
Delport c Croft b Maxwell 44 (Essex 65-2)
Well now - is this a massive blunder from Cameron Delport?
Everything was going so well for him and then he tries to launch Glenn Maxwell over the rope but picks out the man on the long-on rope who is Steven Croft.
Big wicket for Lancashire and it's raining again....
Essex 65-1published at 8 overs
Need 95 more to win off 72 balls
Adam Wheater gets fortunate with an outside edge that fall save behind the stumps and then Keaton Jennings nearly takes a stunner diving full pelt at extra cover.
Would've been an incredible catch to hold on to.
Delport rubs salt into the wounds as he clobbers one through the legside for another four and then gets denied more runs as he strikes it back to his partner Wheater's shoulder.
Essex still ticking nicely though.
Postpublished at 21:26 British Summer Time 4 September 2019
Spin from both ends then for Lancashire as Matt Parkinson comes on with his leggies.
Could be a big moment in the run-chase here...
Postpublished at 21:26 British Summer Time 4 September 2019
Kate Cross
England seam bowler on BBC 5 Live Sports ExtraI'm surprised we didn't see spin earlier in the powerplay.
Essex 56-1published at 7 overs
Target 160
Good start from Maxwell until Delport pulls out a lovely reverse sweep that goes fine for four more.
Otherwise tidy stuff from the Australia all-rounder and this is bubbling up nicely now.
Postpublished at 21:23 British Summer Time 4 September 2019
The Big Show Glenn Maxwell comes on to try and produce some magic for Lancashire....
Postpublished at 21:23 British Summer Time 4 September 2019
Kate Cross
England seam bowler on BBC 5 Live Sports ExtraThat was relatively poor cricket from Lancashire, they have given Essex scoring opportunities square of the wicket.
Powerplay donepublished at 6 overs
Essex 49-1 (target 160)
Four more for Cameron Delport as he wristily whips one over the covers off Faulkner's first ball.
Motoring along here now for the Eagles.
Four more to his name a couple of balls later with a neat cut behind square and then the same result for Delport and Faulkner the next ball as he smashes another four square on the offside.
Decent stuff for Essex there. Delport on to 32 off 20.
Postpublished at 21:19 British Summer Time 4 September 2019
James Faulkner now on to bowl for the last over of this Powerplay...
Essex 35-1published at 5 overs
Target 160
Another over for Richard Gleeson and Cameron Delport decisively hammers him for a straight four.
Gleeson did well to get out of the way of that as it flashed straight back past him in his follow through.
Almost takes a cracking caught and bowled next ball with a full-length dive. "It's all happening" as Bill Lawry used to say!
Streaky four to finish the over as Delport gets fortunate with an inside edge down to fine leg.
Essex 23-1published at 4 overs
Target 160
Delport pulls away for a couple as we restart and then swats once straight down the pitch that almost goes all the way for four save a good chase in the field.
Adam Wheater has a horrible swish at one as he backs away and it's a big miss from the wicketkeeper.
Much better off the last ball of the over though as he calmly pulls one through the legside gap in front of square for four.
Postpublished at 21:11 British Summer Time 4 September 2019
Kate Cross
England seam bowler on BBC 5 Live Sports ExtraI think you're going to see two very fast overs from Lancashire now to make it a game.
We go again!published at 21:11 British Summer Time 4 September 2019
OK - good news. We're ready for a second attempt at restarting this Essex run-chase...
Out come Cameron Delport and Adam Wheater once more and Saqib Mahmood will resume his second over.
Pitch inspectionpublished at 21:06 British Summer Time 4 September 2019
Right then - umpires Saggers and Burns are heading out there for an inspection.
Covers are starting to come off so we could be up and running again soon...
A night of few maximumspublished at 21:04 British Summer Time 4 September 2019
Lancashire's 159-5 could well be a very tough score to chase should we get back on.
A slow and tricky surface made run-scoring testing and we've had just the one six so far.
Here's a chance to see it again from the bat of Lancashire captain Dane Vilas...
Postpublished at 21:01 British Summer Time 4 September 2019
Image source, Rex FeaturesA few more covers being dragged on now to protect the bowlers run-ups.
Essex 14-1 after 3.1 overs to remind you, chasing 160 to reach Finals Day...
Postpublished at 20:57 British Summer Time 4 September 2019
Off they go again then and on come the covers once more.
Let's hope it's not too long a delay as it would be good to get this game done tonight even though I'm informed we do have a reserve day available to conclude it if needed.