YORKSHIRE V SURREY at Headingley (Royal London One-Day Cup), 28 AUGUST 2016

Surrey and Yorkshire qualified for the last eight with identical records of Won 4, Lost 3 and one no result. However, the Vikings go into this contest with two defeats in their last three Royal London One-Day Cup matches, while Surrey haven't lost a 50-over game since mid-June. Another thing that will be playing on Yorkshire's minds is that since winning the Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy in 2002, they have been involved in five one-day semi-finals, losing all of them.

England's one-day international series with Pakistan means Surrey will be without Jason Roy, while the Vikings will be missing Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root and David Willey. But Yorkshire appear to have resisted the temptation of bolstering their side with proven names like Ryan Sidebottom.

Although Jack Brooks is named in the hosts' squad, this will be his first appearance in this season's Royal London if he plays. Left-arm spinner Karl Carver, who averages 11.00 with the ball this summer, and the much under-rated Steven Patterson, with the new cherry, are as responsible as anyone for Yorkshire getting this far. Tim Bresnan has also had his moments, however off-spinner Azeem Rafiq has been hounded somewhat.

Yorkshire's batting looks less reliant on one individual than Surrey's. Gary Ballance, Adam Lyth (435 Royal London runs at an average of 54.37) and Bresnan have all excelled. In his one and only 50-over innings to date for the Vikings, Jonny Bairstow made just nine, but he too is capable of taking apart any attack in the country. The one man for whom this season's Royal London One-Day Cup has been all or nothing is Jack Leaning, who made an unbeaten 131 at Leicester, but has had little else to shout about.

Tom Curran (49 wickets) is approaching fifty one-day career victims, while Yorkshire's Steven Patterson (96) is closing in on his 100th.

James Burke, Mark Footitt, Arun Harinath, Ollie Pope and Amar Virdi are, perhaps, the surprises in Surrey's 15-man squad. Zafar Ansari (back), Ravi Rampaul and Gary Wilson miss out, while Jason Roy is on one-day international duty.

Without Ansari and Roy, much will depend on Rory Burns, Sam Curran, Steven Davies and Ben Foakes batting around the star of Surrey's quarter-final victory, Kumar Sangakkara, whose wicket will be worth two to Yorkshire. Don't forget, in last year's semi-final, against Notts, Sanga set the game up with a masterly innings of 166. Surrey are riding a crest of a wave right now, but Yorkshire have the all important advantage of playing at home. Coupled with the fact that the Vikings have lost each of their last five one-day semis, I've just got a feeling in my water that run is set to end. Prediction - Yorkshire to sneak into the final.

A.Lyth, A.Lees (capt), G.Ballance, J.Bairstow, J.Leaning, T.Bresnan, A.Rafiq, S.Patterson, J.Brooks and K.Carver.

To be confirmed.

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