Moeen ton powers Worcestershire to semis

Moeen Ali's unbeaten 60-ball 121 muscled Worcestershire to a comfortable eight-wicket win over Sussex in the third quarterfinals, thereby booking Worcestershire's spot in the Finals Day. The 32-year old southpaw cracked eight boundaries and 11 sixes to make an easy ride out of a chase of 185 for his side, who overhauled the target with 14 balls to spare. 

Worcestershire didn't begin well in pursuit of a relatively high target, with opener Joe Leech getting bowled by Reece Topley in the first over. However, Riki Wessels and Moeen batted in contrasting fashion and took the game away from the opposition. While the former was chugging along at almost run a ball for his 47, the skipper was more destructive with his ways. Much unlike Salt's assault in the other innings, Moeen's attack was well spread out against all the bowlers, with none spared. By the time the pair was separated, with Wessels falling to Ollie Robinson in the 18th over, they had already added 179 runs and Moeen had registered his second T20 century. 

Earlier in the day, Philip Salt's 40-ball 72 had laid a reasonably strong foundation for Sussex after they were put in to bat. Salt had taken a special liking for Mitchell, who was carted for four sixes by him, in as spell of two overs where he conceded 38 runs. However, Mitchell eventually had the last laugh as he dismissed the opener and paved way for Sussex's innings to go slightly wayward.

It was an innings that lost its momentum once Salt fell in the 11th over. Sussex, who were at 108 at that stage, kept losing wickets at regular intervals from that stage. After an 84-run opening partnership, they had been reduced to 146 for 6. Laurie Evans, who had held one end up added an unbeaten stand of 38 runs (in 3.3 overs) for the seventh wicket to take the side to 184 for 6.

Ed Barnard and Daryl Mitchell bagged a brace each, while Moeen contributed with a restrictive spell of 1 for 22 in 4 overs. 

Brief Scores: Sussex 184/6 in 20 overs (Philip Salt 72, Laurie Evans 43*; Ed Barnard 2-21, Daryl Mitchell 2-38) lost to Worcestershire 187/2 in 17.4 overs (Moeen Ali 121*, Riki Wessels 47; Ollie Robinson 1-24) by 8 wickets