Vilas pulls a short one from Bopara for his first boundary to bring up the fifty partnership as the Lancashire rescue operation continues, with Davies reaching fifty of his own with a neatly played cut to the boundary.

South African Cameron Delport, better known for his boundary hitting than his bowling - with only one wicket in five innings in the event this year, shuffles in for some military medium, the final delivery is timed at 54mph and the slow variations deceive the batsmen.

Just the nine boundaries to date across the large Riverside outfield and Bopara with 2-14 from his three overs as the Lancashire pair grind out the singles.

Vilas cannot get the reverse sweep working against the wily Harmer, who has taken 10 wickets in 10 innings in this year's competition.

Steven Mullaney
Nottinghamshire all-rounder on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

Essex will certainly be the happier at this stage as Lancashire keep rebuilding.

I don't see this being a very high-scoring quarter-final.

Lancashire will feel with their slower bowlers and these deep square boundaries that anything around 140-150 will put them right in the game.

Image source, Rex Features

A much-needed boundary for Lancashire as Davies cuts a short one from Zampa just wide of the diving backward point.

Now here is the big wicket, Maxwell had just hit three fours when this happened.

Harmer again and once again they cannot find the boundary.

The headbanded Zampa returns for his second over and he keeps the boundaries at bay again.

Kate Cross
England seam bowler on BBC 5 Live Sports Extra

These two are just trying to rebuild this innings - push the ball deep to the boundary-rider fielders and build with ones and twos to begin with.

The flags whipping across the poles as Essex captain Simon Harmer enters the attack and has a confident appeal for lbw with a full toss that Dane Vilas misses with his reverse sweep, but not out is the decision and the replays show it was the right one, the ball pitching outside the line and missing the stumps.

Kate Cross
England seam bowler on BBC 5 Live Sports Extra

Looked like it pinned Glenn Maxwell right in front of middle stump and another skiddy delivery from Ravi Bopara.

Again it proves a tough pitch to feel in on.

Another one to avoid for Lancashire supporters.

What a shot this is from Maxwell as Bopara strays down the leg side, it's just a flick of the wrists and a one-bounce four to fine-leg, Essex having to get the towel out to dry the ball in the evening dew.

Kate Cross
England seam bowler on BBC 5 Live Sports Extra

We've seen a few of the players get through their shots early and that's indicative of the lack of pace in this surface.

It's a tricky one to get in on.

Image source, Rex Features

There's the first Maxwell boundary, easily into position to help a short ball from Beard to the boundary in front of a sprinkling of spectators well wrapped up at fine leg. They'll appreciate the warmth of the fireworks that signal the boundary and there's more as Maxwell nonchalantly pulls another short one for four, before delicately late cutting to third man. Three fours for the Australian at the end of the powerplay.

The Big Show in now, Glenn Maxwell, with 291 runs to his name in the competition so far and he gets off the mark first ball with a single. Some bigger shots ahead we expect.