Kirtley almost ended Essex' campaign early on

And he then took five wickets, including two in successive balls as the visitors stumbled from a dominant 103 for one to 120 for six before.

Irani's success over-shadowed a five-wicket haul for Sussex pace man James Kirtley, who took three of the first four wickets to fall.

But Irani and new signing Aftab Habib put on 77 for the fifth wicket to pull the home side clear.

No result against Middlesex

Rain at Lord's saw the match abandoned without a ball being bowled, ruining Essex' perfect record.

Beat Surrey by four wickets

Holders Surrey released their grip on the cup after a superb 98 from Andy Flower led Essex home with four wickets and just under five overs to spare.

Flower's innings, which took him 114 balls, including 11 fours and one six, resurrected Essex after they stumbled to eight for two.

Irani took four wickets but half-centuries from Mark Butcher and Mark Ramprakash stabilised their side to reach 223 all out.

Beat Kent by two wickets

An unbeaten 50 from 34 balls by Irani brought Essex a victory which at one point looked beyond them.

Nasser Hussain hit 42 opening the innings, and then Flower and Habib looked to be accelerating nicely.

But when both men were out, Ben Trott got in on the act, removing Ashley Cowan and Paul Grayson cheaply and Irani was left to do nearly all the work himself.

Earlier, Kent recovered from a disastrous 43 for four, Cowan taking three quick wickets, to 231 for nine thanks to an innings of 80 by David Fulton.

But Essex seamer Andy Clarke responded for the visitors by collecting his best-ever figures of four for 44.

Quarter-final: beat Yorkshire by seven wickets

Hussain led Essex into the semi-finals, swinging his bat with gusto towards the end to finish 136 not out from 144 balls, with 18 fours and a six.

Hussain was in spectacular form against Yorkshire

Yorkshire's star-studded seam attack were wayward throughout, Matthew Hoggard conceding 65 runs for a single wicket.

Yorkshire had been restricted to a slightly disappointing 237 for nine despite a pyrotechnical 56 from 42 deliveries from Chris Silverwood.

Skipper Darren Lehmann and Richard Blakey added 75 for the seventh wicket, but both men fell in the 48th over attempting to make quick runs.

Semi-final: beat Worcestershire by 138 runs

Irani produced a stellar performance, top-scoring with 57 off 55 balls and taking three wickets after weather forced the match to be straddled over two days.

Worcestershire's bowlers failed to capitalise in what were good bowling conditions after captain Graeme Hick won the toss and chose to bat first.

The Essex batting triumvirate of Irani, Hussain and Flower defied the gloomy weather to post an impressive 262 for nine.

Worcestershire's highest-scorer was Stephen Rhodes, but he managed just 41 as the visitors were bowled out for 124.