Hampshire, Essex and Warwickshire win through to semi-finals

The final group-stage matches in the Friends Provident resulted in Durham, already confirmed as semi-finalists after winning on Sunday, finishing top of the North Conference to be at home to Essex while Hampshire secured home advantage against Warwickshire by winning the South Conference.

South Conference

Nick Compton was left stranded on 110 as Middlesex imploded against Sussex © Will Luke

A sixth-wicket stand of 122 between Rikki Clarke and Chris Schofield rescued Surrey from embarrassment against Hampshire at The Rose Bowl after they crashed to 32 for 6, Stuart Clark doing the damage in an opening burst of 5 for 16. Surrey eventually posted 181, a total Hampshire passed with three wickets in hand despite a late wobble which saw them lose four within sight of victory. The win confirmed Hampshire as conference winners and ended Surrey's slim chance of making the semi-finals.

That result meant that Gloucestershire missed out on run-rate despite beating Kent by 40 runs at Tunbridge Wells. A fourth-wicket stand of 105 between Hamish Marshall and Alex Gidman steered Gloucestershire to 275 for 6, and Kent were in touch until two quick wickets from Ian Fisher put the brakes on the innings and thereafter they were always second best.

Essex booked their place in the last four with a convincing seven-wicket win over Somerset at Chelmsford. Martin Saggers removed Marcus Trescothick and Peter Trego early on, but it was the introduction of Danish Kaneria which put Somerset on the back foot, taking 5 for 32. Only Justin Langer, with 82, showed any semblance of taking the attack as Somerset were bowled out for a disappointing 193. Essex's chase got off to a rollicking start with Mark Pettini and Varun Chopra putting on 74 for the opening stand. And though Pettini fell to Ian Blackwell for a barnstorming 87 - from 79 balls and including 12 fours - Ravi Bopara's slick 51 ensured Essex were home and dry in the 35th over.

An excellent 110 from Nick Compton wasn't enough for Middlesex who imploded against Sussex, losing by nine runs at Lord's. Chasing 272, Compton and Owais Shah - who was in bristling form in his 97-ball 88 - put on 163 for the third wicket to put Middlesex well on course for victory. But when Shah holed out to James Kirtley, Middlesex crumbled to lose 5 for 52. Sussex's 271 for 9 was set up by a magical 111 from Murray Goodwin - as inventive as he was orthodox - and a dogged 82 from Richard Montgomerie.

Ireland's disappointing campaign ended with a washout against Glamorgan at Belfast, leaving them without a win.

Warwickshire beat Durham by 39 runs at Edgbaston to enter the semi-finals. The match was as good as meaningless for Durham who had already qualified for the last four, but today they struggled as Warwickshire piled up 314 for 5. Jonathan Trott (105*) and Tim Ambrose (132 off 82) put on 174 quick runs for the fifth wicket. Durham got off to a reasonable start, but on 77 for 3 the rain fell heavily and, with Durham behind the Duckworth-Lewis rate, the match was abandoned in Warwickshire's favour.

Nottinghamshire beat Lancashire by 37 runs in another rain affected match at Trent Bridge but it wasn't enough for the hosts to qualify for the semi-finals. Lancashire's 219 for 9 was led by Steve Croft's 63 and a bristling 30 from Tom Smith - but the hosts began strongly in their chase, with David Hussey smacking 51 from 48 balls. When the rain fell, Nottinghamshire were comfortably ahead under the Duckworth-Lewis regulations, but owing to Warwickshire's win over Durham, Notts missed out.

There was nothing at stake in the match between Leicestershire and Derbyshire at Leicester, and the home side cruised to a nine-wicket win thanks to an unbeaten stand of 229 between John Mauders and John Sadler, both of whom hit their maiden one-day hundreds. Derbyshire had a sixth-wicket stand of 133 between Ant Botha and James Pipe to thank for giving helping them to 236 for 7 after Jim Allenby's career-best 5 for 46 had reduced them to 88 for 5.

Scotland were spared a drubbing at New Road when rain intervened as they tottered on 20 for 3 in reply to Worcestershire's365 for 7. Vikram Solanki led the charge with 132 from 94 deliveries and Phil Jaques and Ben Smith chipped in with fifties. Scotland lost three wickets inside the first three overs.

Yorkshire were awarded an unlikely victory over Northamptonshire at Headingley after the visitors notched 314 for 5. Usman Afzaal and Stephen Peters both hit fine hundreds, putting on 214 for the opening wicket. But after losing their openers, Yorkshire sneaked ahead on Duckworth-Lewis with Gerard Brophy unbeaten on 45 and Anthony McGrath making 62.