Irani thrilled by Essex performance

Gold Award winner Ronnie Irani was full of praise for his Essex side after scoring a run-a-ball 57 and three for 30 in his team's 138-run win over Worcestershire that secured a place in the last-ever Benson & Hedges Cup Final at Lord's on June 22.

"It was a great team performance, everyone contributed and I thought we were excellent," Irani said.

"If you want to be successful and be the best you have to adapt to playing in these pressure games. And it has been an absolute joy to see how some of these guys have played.

"Essex are playing as well as they have since I have been involved with them. Yesterday, it wasn't easy at the start but we took the initiative and never let it go."

Asked whether he had hopes of an England recall for the triangular series with Sri Lanka and India, he said: "I don't look further than Essex County Cricket Club. They are my club and these are my boys and I can't look beyond that."

Worcestershire's captain Graeme Hick admitted they didn't make the most of their opportunity after putting the hosts in to bat.

"Generally we are a side that likes to bat first but both of us would have bowled on winning the toss here," Hick said.

"We have played some good cricket this year and this is only our second defeat in the one-day game. We came into it with confidence but Essex played well, got the momentum going, and we didn't play as well we can in all three departments."