It's raining (again)published at 20:54 British Summer Time 4 September 2019
Saqib Mahmood to resume that over - well, he hopes so - but it's raining again....
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
It's raining (again)published at 20:54 British Summer Time 4 September 2019
Clearing up....published at 20:52 British Summer Time 4 September 2019
Looks like that shower has passed at Chester-le-Street and if there's no more rain, we'll be back under way in the next three minutes...
Watch: Showers and more Steve Smith on day onepublished at 20:50 British Summer Time 4 September 2019
While we wait for a resumption in the north east, let's bring you up to speed with earlier events in the north west...
If you missed any of the action from the opening day of the fourth Ashes Test at Old Trafford, catch up with our highlights below....
Postpublished at 20:47 British Summer Time 4 September 2019
Steven Mullaney
Nottinghamshire all-rounder on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports ExtraIt says it is going to rain for 14 minutes on my app.
Postpublished at 20:46 British Summer Time 4 September 2019
Get your DLS spreadsheets out ladies and gentlemen.
Could well come in handy shortly...
Postpublished at 20:45 British Summer Time 4 September 2019
Steven Mullaney
Nottinghamshire all-rounder on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports ExtraLancashire won't enjoy this because it brings Essex right back into the game.
It's rainingpublished at 20:45 British Summer Time 4 September 2019
Essex 14-1 (3.1 overs)
Might not be off for long mind - plenty of wind around still pushing any showers we've got through pretty quickly.
Remember - we need five overs of this Essex innings completed to constitute a game.
Rain stops playpublished at 3.1 overs
Essex 14-1 (target 160)
There's some rain around in the air now....
And they're going off.
Essex 14-1published at 3 overs
Target 160
Cameron Delport looks like he's going to swing and swing hard at any pace on offer.
Might be a wise choice given how successful slower bowlers have been tonight.
But, he takes a wild swipe at one across the line from Gleeson and makes no contact. Ones and twos so far for the Eagles.
WATCH: Westley serves up a caught and bowledpublished at 20:42 British Summer Time 4 September 2019
And here's why Saqib Mahmood is a prospect worth talking about....
Postpublished at 20:42 British Summer Time 4 September 2019
Steven Mullaney
Nottinghamshire all-rounder on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports ExtraI wouldn't be at all surprised if Saqib Mahmood is involved in England's white-ball plans this winter, I think he's got a huge future.
Postpublished at 20:38 British Summer Time 4 September 2019
Bit more seam for Lancashire with Richard Gleeson on....
Essex 9-1published at 2 overs
Target 160
Adam Wheater is Essex's man in at three and he survives a big caught behind appeal as he tries to paddle one down to fine leg.
Dot ball to finish the over and just the one from it plus the wicket of Tom Westley.
Image source, rexPostpublished at 20:36 British Summer Time 4 September 2019
Steven Mullaney
Nottinghamshire all-rounder on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports ExtraIt wouldn't surprise me if it was a cross seam delivery, Westley turning the bat too early.
WICKETpublished at 1.3 overs
Westley c&b Mahmood 8 (Essex 9-1)
Slower ball does the trick for Saqib Mahmood and Tom Westley.
Westley in a tangle and he leading-edges one straight back to the bowler for an easy caught and bowled...
Postpublished at 20:33 British Summer Time 4 September 2019
The pace of Saqib Mahmood from the other end for Lancashire to Cameron Delport....
Postpublished at 20:33 British Summer Time 4 September 2019
Steven Mullaney
Nottinghamshire all-rounder on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports ExtraI think it's a big total on this wicket but if someone has a day out then Essex could get home but Lancashire will back their pace-off options.
Essex 8-0published at 20:33 British Summer Time 4 September 2019
Target 160
Tom Westley with a lovely cut through the covers for four third ball to get Essex going.
Back it up with a sumptuous slog sweep for four down to square leg. Ball gets lost for a while under the covers which means a couple of Lancashire players have to retrieve it.
That's the eight an over Essex need to get things started.
Postpublished at 20:31 British Summer Time 4 September 2019
Steven Mullaney
Nottinghamshire all-rounder on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports ExtraI thought Davies played an unbelievable innings for Lancashire.
Essex need 160 to winpublished at 20:29 British Summer Time 4 September 2019
So Cameron Delport and Tom Westley to open up for Essex who need a round eight-an-over to win this one and reach Finals Day.
Spin to begin for Lancashire with Steven Croft....