HAMPSHIRE will be up against an in-form James Anderson when they attempt to reach a second successive Lord’s final on Sunday (11.30am start).

Anderson helped Lancashire set up an Ageas Bowl semi-final against the Royal London One-Day Cup holders as Middlesex were beaten by 20 runs in yesterday’s play off at Lord’s.

The England legend took 1-35 from his nine overs while new-ball partner Saqib Mahmood took 4-38 as Middlesex were bowled out for 284 in reply to Lancashire’s 304-4.

Middlesex had been 24-5 as Mahmood took 3-15 with the new ball to take his One-Day Cup wickets tally to 25, the joint highest in the competition, with Nathan Sowter, who finished with 1-73 for the home side.

Keaton Jennings, who made 96, will also be one to watch.

Meanwhile, Hampshire have the competition’s Most Valuable Player in Liam Dawson

The all-rounder took 17 wickets at a miserly four runs an over and averaged almost 50 with the bat in the group stage.

Teammate Sam Northeast reckons the all-rounder will be in England’s World Cup squad if Moeen Ali, Joe Denly or Adil Rashid are sidelined by injury.

“Daws is playing unbelievable cricket at the moment and when he is in this form you think he should be in the World Cup squad,” Northeast said. “But there are so many good cricketers out there at the moment and that is why England are probably favourites for the World Cup.

“If Daws was to get called up because of an injury I know he will do a fantastic job. If it does come, he’ll absolutely deserve it.”

Northeast faced Dawson as an opposing player while at Kent, and explains exactly why the slow left-armer is so effective.

“He is really hard to sweep or cut,” he said. “He almost gets the ball to keep low. His line and length is impeccable so he is really hard to get back to cut or it goes under the bat when you sweep.

"All the best spinners, I think of Tredders [James Tredwell] when he was on the top of his game at Kent, have that nous where they are one step ahead of the batter.

“That is a real skill which you can’t teach, and he has that at the moment. I think he is reading the game so well.

“He’s got the ball on a piece of string and is reading the game so well.”

Under-17s will be given free entry to Sunday’s semi-final, with tickets still available and lots of family-friendly activities on site.