ENGLAND discard Neil Fairbrother hit an unbeaten 80 as Benson and Hedges Cup holders Lancashire beat Gloucestershire yesterday to set up a semi final clash with arch rivals Yorkshire.

Fairbrother rescued Lancashire from 32 for four as they pursued Gloucestershire's total of 158 all out in their rain hit 50 overs quarter final at Old Trafford.

Lancashire completed victory at 162 for five with 10.2 overs to spare, and now face Yorkshire at home on June 11th.

In the other tie, Northamptonshire are home to Warwickshire, Northants having beaten Kent by 23 runs in another quarter final match carried over from Tuesday because of rain.

Lancashire, who resumed on 12 for three, soon plunged into deeper trouble when Nick Speak fell for six but Fairbrother, overlooked by England since the World Cup, carried the attack to Gloucestershire.