Liam Plunkett is Yorkshire's hero as they book Royal London semi-final berth

Liam Plunkett was Yorkshire's hero as they beat Essex by 20 runs in the Royal London One-Day Cup quarter-final tie at Chelmsford.

Plunkett first cut loose with the bat as a quickfire 49 from 32 balls, including three fours and three sixes, lifted Yorkshire to what proved to be a defendable 252 for nine.

And in the presence of England selector Angus Fraser, Plunkett cleaned up key batsmen Tom Westley and Jesse Ryder before picking up another crucial wicket in the form of Ravi Bopara as Essex were all out for 232 in 47.5 overs.

At the halfway stage it was the home side who looked to be in control, despite Plunkett's heroics, although Mark Pettini was run out early into their reply after bowler Tim Bresnan deflected a Nick Browne drive onto the stumps at the non-striker's end

That paved the way for Browne and Westley to strike the ball fluently while gathering 92 runs in 16 overs before Plunkett got to work with the ball.

He started by breaching the defence of Westley after the batsman had struck a run-a-ball 54, with the help of six fours and two sixes, and the former Durham paceman then took the catch at short midwicket as Browne departed for 37.

Plunkett then produced a wonderful delivery, coming round the wicket, to catch the top of Ryder's off-stump then, continuing with his line of attack, he found the outside edge to account for Bopara, with wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow taking a superb catch low down to his right.

That left Essex 129 for five at the halfway stage but they were revived by Ryan ten Doeschate and James Foster as they gathered 60 runs in 14 overs without looking in any real trouble.

The stand was broken when Foster, on 30, holed out to the midwicket boundary off Will Rhodes before Ten Doeschate, immediately after completing his half-century from 64 balls, found Bresnan at deep long-on.

With his dismissal for 52, Yorkshire were always favourites for victory and Bresnan took the final two wickets to finish with figures of two for 41, while Plunkett was the pick of the bowlers with three for 58.

Earlier Plunkett made a vital contribution with the bat after Yorkshire had slumped to 202 for nine, starting his all-out assault by taking 14 runs from Reece Topley's final over.

The Essex left-armer, who has been called up to England's squad for the limited overs matches against Australia, finished with four for 56, figures which were spoiled by Plunkett creaming a six and a four off successive balls.

Plunkett then smashed two sixes and a four off Jamie Porter to get his side to a respectable total although the White Rose were grateful for contributions higher up the order as well.

Adam Lyth, playing in his first match following England's Ashes triumph, made 36 from 40 balls before being bowled by Porter but it was Jack Leaning who held the innings together with a 99-ball 72.

The 21-year-old struck five fours and two sixes before holing out to Topley. That brought Plunkett to the crease and he ultimately turned the game in Yorkshire's favour to set-up a semi-final clash with Gloucestershire at Headingley on September 6.