Gough targets final

8:55am Friday 4th July 2008

DARREN Gough recognises that he is just one game away from a fairytale Lord's final in his farewell season.

But the captain wants to topple his former county Essex in tomorrow's Friends Provident Trophy semi-final at Chelmsford for the good of Yorkshire cricket.

Goughy is adamant that Yorkshire's one-day form is on the rise, a view highlighted by their run in the 50-over game as well as their passage through to Monday's Twenty20 Cup quarter final at Durham.

There is no doubt that this is a long weekend to shape the White Rose summer.

Gough, 37, spent three seasons with the Chelmsford side before returning to his spiritual home in the winter of 2007.

Last month he announced that this will be his last full season as a professional cricketer, adding that a first domestic Lord's final of his career would be the icing on the cake.

"The fairytale is there, but it is not about me. It is about Yorkshire doing well," he said. "There are a lot of young guys here who will never have a better opportunity to get to a Lord's final.

"But I've played at Essex, and I know how much they want it. They've got some good players who are desperate for success. We will need to be just as desperate."

Despite the midweek County Championship loss to Durham at Headingley, the Tykes are in confident mood for their trip south.

Pakistani overseas bowler Rana Naved-ul-Hasan is back in contention after six weeks out with a hamstring tear, while Tim Bresnan was yesterday named in England's provisional 30-man squad for September's ICC Champions Trophy.

Bresnan leads the way with 16 wickets from nine 50-over games this term, while has also taken 29 wickets from seven first-class games. The 23 year-old has been in steady form with the bat.

On tomorrow's clash, Gough continued: "I've played in Lord's finals for England, but not for a county side. I'm going there in good confidence. We've got a good side, but they are a good side as well.

"They know how to play at Chelmsford - but I know how they are going to play, which is probably a bit of an advantage.

"Rana is in my mind, but it all depends on what the wicket is like.

"I'll have to decide on whether to play an extra batsman or an extra bowler.

An attack of Hoggard, Gough, Bresnan and Rana is a pretty good attack in any form of cricket, so that is a possibility."

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