Napier stars as Essex reach showpiece

The 28-year-old struck 40 from just 20 deliveries in the home side's 192 for nine with three fours and three sixes.

Then in the guise of fast bowler he picked up four wickets for 10 in four overs as the visitors reached 115 for seven in their pursuit of a revised target of 175 in 18 overs after rain had delayed the start of their reply.

Only a fortnight ago, Napier smashed a world record 16 sixes during an unbeaten 152 against Sussex in the same competition, while on Saturday he made a belligerent 61 to help Essex secure a place in the final of the Friends Provident Trophy at Lord's next month at the expense of Yorkshire.

Northants were always up against it after openers Ravi Bopara and Mark Pettini put together an opening stand of 68 in seven overs.

Bopara made 47 from 26 deliveries with the help of seven fours and two sixes as Pettini managed 17.

Napier's 40 gave the Essex innings late momentum before he was caught on the long-on boundary in the final over of the innings.

Northants made a disastrous start to their reply at Chelmsford. Rob White was caught behind by James Foster off David Masters in the opening over before Napier struck three times in his first couple of overs to leave Northants 11 for four.

It was only a fighting 58 not out from Nicky Boje - his effort spanning 43 deliveries - that spared the visitors from humiliation, but long before then their hopes of winning a place at the Rose Bowl had disappeared.

Napier took his fourth wicket - that of Lance Klusener - with the last ball of the match as Essex won by 59 runs.