Essex will play at home to Yorkshire in the B&H Quarter Final
on Wednesday 22 May.

Golden boy Ronnie Irani, still on cloud nine after leading Essex into the Benson and Hedges Cup quarter-finals, firmly believes they have the 'spirit and ability' to see off last-eight opponents Yorkshire and go all the way to Lord's. Undefeated Essex have been handed a plum home tie against the Tykes on Wednesday, May 22. They clinched top spot in the powerful Southern 'group of death' with a super last-over win against Kent at Canterbury. The jubilant England all-rounder Irani collected his second Gold Award of the season for his match-winning, unbeaten half-century and promptly said: "Bring on Yorkshire. "If we are going to win the Cup we've got to beat the best sides - and Yorkshire are one of the best. "But all I was concerned about was earning a home tie in front of our own supporters and Yorkshire won't be relishing the prospect of coming to Chelmsford to play us. "The omens are with us because we've already seen off the Yorkshiremen twice in previous semi-finals - 1979 and 1998 - before going on to lift the Cup." Irani is equally delighted to have knocked Kent out. He said: "My main goal going into yesterday's last group match was to make sure Kent didn't qualify. "They are one of the strongest one-day sides in the country and could have a big danger to our hopes of reaching the final." He added: "We are taking nothing for granted. At the moment it's like somebody showing us the FA Cup, but none of us will be tempting fate by touching it."