David Masters will be bowling flat out to create a new chapter of cricket history at Lord's today.

The eager Essex pace bowler, signed on a three-year deal from Leicestershire last autumn, has never played in a Lord's cup final.

And that will be the perfect spur for the 30-year-old former Kent and Leicester quickie to spring into action against Middlesex in a Friends Provident Trophy tie at the hallowed St John's Wood ground today.

Victory will almost certainly ensure Essex top place in the South-East group and a home tie in the last eight.

Masters, who recently became a new father - he has a baby boy Harrison - said: "I've played in four of the five Twenty20 Cup finals, but I've never played a final at Lord's.

"To do that in my first season with Essex would be fantastic and I will be bowling my heart out at the ground today in a bid to make that dream come true.

"Competitions and days like this are big money-spinners for the counties and winning home ties at the quarter-final stage is very important to the players and their clubs.

"Whether we win a last-eight home tie or not could depend on run-rate between us and my first county Kent.

"But to still be involved in the FPT at this stage so early in the season is a massive bonus for all the Essex boys."

Masters, who last week posted new career-best figures of six for 24 and currently boasts 25 wickets in all cricket since his switch to Essex, said he honestly thought it would take a lot longer for the team to come together.

He said things are going very well considering the fact Essex have a very young squad and three new faces compared to last season - himself, former Nottinghamshire and England opening batsman Jason Gallian and promising Middlesex pace bowler Chris Wright.

He said: "I'm very happy with my start for the county and everyone appears to have settled in.

"Jason's done particularly well with three centuries to date and considering it's his first season in First Class, first-team cricket young Wrighty's showing up very well.

"South African Test star Andre Nel was a fantastic foil for me. All I had to do during his spell with the county was run up and bowl, while he intimidated the batsmen from the other end.

"But somebody in the team has always stepped up to the plate.

"Ravi Bopara has been in great form with the bat and others have chipped in with good scores around him."