Morning:
10°c
Napier's ready for another smashing time
Evening Standard 7 Jul 2008
Graham Napier can do his England hopes another power of good tonight and complete a magical three days for Essex.
The 28-year-old all-rounder, who has suddenly become the hottest hitter in limited-overs cricket, scored 61 from 34 balls as Essex crushed Yorkshire by 87 runs at Chelmsford on Saturday to reach the Friends Provident Trophy Final.
Now Napier and his team-mates are facing another huge home match against Northamptonshire, with the winners of their Twenty20 Cup meeting going through to finals day on 26 July.
A fortnight ago, Napier produced a sensational Twenty20 Cup innings of 152 not out against Sussex at Chelmsford, including 16 sixes.
Middlesex play their 'home' quarter-final against Lancashire at The Oval tomorrow because Lord's is unavailable and Kent travel to Warwickshire on Wednesday.
Australia, meanwhile, smashed the West Indies by a record 169 runs in St Kitts to complete a 5-0 sweep of their one-day series. After totalling 341 for eight, the Aussies dismissed the home side for 172, with Mitchell Johnson taking five for 29.
