Murray Goodwin steers Sussex into Twenty20 Cup final

Twenty20 Cup semi-final at Edgbaston: Sussex v Northamptonshire Sussex win by seven wickets.

Sussex will contest the final of the Twenty20 Cup for the first time after overcoming Northamptonshire by seven wickets in the first semi-final at Edgbaston.
Murray Goodwin's 43-ball half-century ensured the Sharks made sure of their place in the Champions League in India in October - and a potential six million dollar jackpot - as they chased down a modest 137 target with two balls to spare.
But in the immediate term the Sharks, who were beaten by Hampshire in the Friends Provident Trophy final last month, will now meet the winners of the Somerset-Kent semi-final this evening.
Sussex opener Luke Wright looked in good form and pulled a short ball from Johan van der Wath for six as the paceman conceded 16 runs in his second over.

After making 18 off 13 balls, he tried to hit Andrew Hall over the top and provided Rob White with a comfortable catch at mid-off with 30 on the board.
Goodwin has endured a modest season by his high standards but he reeled off a series of boundaries all around the wicket, one of which through the covers off Lee Daggett brought up the 50 in the eighth over.
Rory Hamilton-Brown gave him good support during a second-wicket stand of 91 in 14 overs and also found Daggett to his liking as he drove him over long on for six.
Goodwin reached his own half century with a clip through mid-wicket for his seventh boundary off David Willey.
He survived one chance on 63 when Willey spilled a catch on the mid-wicket boundary off the unfortunate Daggett with the total on 112 in the 16th over.
Hall returned for his second spell and instantly bowled Hamilton-Brown (29) while Dwayne Smith made only two before edging Van der Wath to wicket-keeper Niall O'Brien.
But Goodwin remained unbeaten on 80 from 67 balls with ten fours to seal victory for his side.
Sussex skipper Michael Yardy had opted to put Northants into bat after winning the toss and played a major role himself in keeping the Steelbacks in check on a slow pitch.
Yardy conceded only 23 runs in his four overs and picked up the wicket of O'Brien (24) while fellow spinner Will Beer was almost as economical with one for 26.
Northants opener Ian Harvey enjoyed plenty of one-day success with Gloucestershire and he smote 21 off 15 balls with four fours before being bowling off the inside edge by James Kirtley.
But after that there was a lack of momentum during the Northants innings and the other opener, White, was run out for 20 by Ed Joyce's direct hit from extra cover after attempting a risky single.
Yardy and Beer kept such a tight rein in the middle part of the innings that only one four and one six - by Niall O'Brien - were registered between the seventh and 17th overs.
O'Brien was stumped by Andrew Hodd down the leg-side off Yardy and then Beer accounted for Alex Wakely (10) who holed out on the mid-wicket boundary to Yasir Arafat.
Arafat returned to the attack to dismiss Rikki Wessels and Van der Wath in successive overs and it needed an unbeaten 34 off 29 balls from Northants skipper Nicky Boje to help his side to 136 for six.
Had they won, Northants would not have been eligible to participate in the Champions League as Hall and Boje did not produce evidence in time to prove they had severed their links with the rebel Indian Cricket League.
Source:The times