ESSEX kept their hopes of retaining the Friends Provident Trophy alive with a win in their final group stage at Old Trafford on Wednesday– and then found themselves booked for a return trip to Manchester this weekend.
Varun Chopra and Alastair Cook both hit 65 in a 124-run second-wicket stand as Essex chased a revised Duckworth/Lewis target of 207 from 46 overs.
Lancashire, who had already won Group D, made 214-7 from 50 overs, Francois du Plessis top scoring with 51.
The quarter-final draw, conducted immediately after the game, then paired Essex with Lancashire in the quarter-final, which will be played on Saturday.