Essex Eagles cruised into the Friends Provident Twenty20 knockout stages thanks to commanding batting displays from opening pair Alastair Cook and Ravi Bopara.
The Eagles won two of their three games over the weekend to secure a home quarter-final against Lancashire Lightning to be played at the County Ground next Monday or Tuesday.
On Thursday the Eagles guaranteed themselves a last eight place with an easy victory against bottom side Gloucestershire Gladiators.
The visitors opened the batting and impressed posting a competitive total of 173-4 before Bopara (59) and Cook (73) stepped up to rattle off the run chase.
Their opening partnership of 119 put the game to bed and got the Chelmsford crowd on their feet as the two England internationals found the gaps with absolute precision.
Essex had batting throughout their line-up but it was not needed in the end as it was left to Matt Walker to secure the win with two huge sixes and eight balls to spare - booking the Eagles a quarter-final berth.
On Friday night Essex took on Sussex Sharks in Hove knowing a win would take them another step closer to a home tie in the quarter-finals.
Michael Yardy gave the Essex attack something to think about hitting 76 off 51 balls but yet another commanding first wicket partnership of 83 from Bopara (39) and Cook (63) put the Eagles on their way to victory.
A half century from Scott Styris (52) eventually helped Essex to reach the home side’s total of 185-4 in the final over.
On Sunday the Eagles crashed to an 11 run defeat against Middlesex at the County Ground but still secured a home quarter-final.
Bopara (7) and Cook (6) stumbled in reply to the Panther’s 173-7 and Essex never recovered as only Styris top scored with 42 as the Eagles were restricted to 162-6.
This week Essex face a tough LV County Championship clash with Yorkshire at the County Ground (Tuesday-Friday, 11am) before returning to action in the Clydesdale Bank Pro40 with a trip to Northamptonshire on Sunday (1.45pm).