Staffordshire made a winning start to their NCCA Knockout Trophy double header with a 60-run victory over Herefordshire at West Bromwich Dartmouth.
Staffs have set their sights on improving on their 50-over fortunes after two disappointing summers which has seen them fail to progress beyond the group stages.
However, they made the ideal start to this summer’s Group Two campaign, which they will now look to back up against Suffolk on Bank Holiday Monday.
It was captain James Kettleborough who led the way for Staffs with a magnificent 105 which formed the backbone of Staffordshire’s 275 all out at Sandwell Park.
Kettleborough’s second Knockout Trophy ton for the county – following his maiden one at Suffolk last season – paved the way for Staffordshire to stick a more than competitive total on the board after they had been asked to bat by their visitors.
Matthew Morris (49), Michael Hill (39) and Reeve Evitts (30) also looked in good nick – and would have been disappointed not to have gone on – to provide Kettleborough with the necessary support.
In reply, Herefordshire saw Ben Chapman-Lilley compile 42, but despite several other starts, no other top-order batsmen could make a sizeable contribution.
Staffs gradually chipped away at Herefordshire’s line-up and reduced them to 147-9 to stand on the verge of an emphatic success.
But James Rudge was intent on having some late afternoon fun as he plundered four fours and six sixes in a superb 38-ball 62.
And that dragged his side up to 215 before he was bowled by Rory Haydon to bring an end to his fun and Herefordshire’s slim hopes of a remarkable turnaround.
‘Tricky start’
Staffordshire had gone into the encounter looking to showcase their skills in the 50-over format, but the start they made didn’t hint at a new dawn.
Openers Callum Hawkins and Liam Banks were both back in the pavilion with just 19 runs on the board.
Hawkins was bowled by paceman Rudge for one, before Banks attempted to cut the same bowler, but only managed to feather a catch through to keeper Luke Powell to depart for 13.
Staffordshire supporters might well have been having flashbacks about what has happened over the past couple of seasons, but Evitts and skipper Kettleborough played sensibly to rebuild the hosts’ innings.
However, having advanced the score to 75, the introduction of left-arm spinner Taylor Cornall reaped rewards for Herefordshire.
Cornall managed to get some bite out of the surface and Evitts nicked through to Powell to fall in the 16th over.
Herefordshire, having won the toss, would have been pretty satisfied at that point, but Kettleborough and Michael Hill then produced a key partnership which would enable the home side to flourish later on.
For the next 18 overs, they married smart batting with the occasional brutal hit, most notably when Hill sent a six into the traffic on Birmingham Road.
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Kettleborough went past 50, and the stand looked to have legs before Hill departed in slightly unfortunate fashion.
He looked to send the spin of Matt Pardoe over mid-wicket, but only managed to miscue the ball to Cornall in the ring.
At that point Staffordshire were 158-4, with plenty of eyes on Kettleborough as to whether he could manage to provide the big contribution his team required.
‘Motoring on’
The answer was certainly yes, but plenty of plaudits must also go to the way Morris played as he took the attack to Herefordshire.
Morris faced just 38 balls to make 49, hitting eight fours and one six, but was denied a deserved half-century when he was run out by a direct hit.
Still, at 227-5, Staffordshire were in pretty good shape, and Kettleborough moved through to his century in fine style.
But having added five more runs to his total, and after an innings containing five fours and three sixes, he was bowled by Cornall.
Staffs still had time to push on towards the 300-mark, but Herefordshire fought back valiantly as Cornall finished with 5-39 to blitz the lower order.
Cornall was then tasked with getting Herefordshire off to a flying start – and he obliged with a quickfire 24.
He was the first to go, though, when he attempted to heave Liam Hurt over the leg side, but only edged the ball to Kettleborough at slip.
‘Big breakthroughs’
Chapman-Lilley and Olly Cox progressed the score for 31-1 to 66-1 before the introduction of Sam Atkinson paid off for Staffs.
Atkinson bowled Cox for 21, but the key scalp was that of Matt Pardoe, just eight runs later.
He latched on to a short ball for Atkinson, but was expertly caught by Morris running in from fine leg.
Kettleborough then turned to the left-arm spin of Tom Brett and the medium pace of Evitts to forge a productive alliance.
From 118-3, just after the drinks break, Herefordshire suffered a big collapse which ended their chances of victory.
Chapman-Lilley was superbly stumped by Hawkins off Brett, while the same bowler quickly won an lbw verdict against Luke Tulacz.
Staffordshire had the bit between their teeth now, and Evitts and Hawkins teamed up to account for Olly Walker (27) and Alex Hinkley (six).
And when Powell was trapped lbw by Brett (3-31) and Banks castled Ben Clements, Herefordshire were on the verge of a heavy defeat.
‘Hitting out’
Rudge wasn’t about to throw in the towel, though, and he had plenty of fun in the closing stages.
In fact, Staffordshire wouldn’t have wanted him to hang around for another three or four overs – but Haydon, having misjudged a catch off him in the deep, bowled him to settle the issue.
It was the start Staffordshire craved as they bid to crack the Knockout Trophy code.
However, in 2024 the 50-over season started with a Kettleborough ton and Staffordshire win before going south.
Staffordshire will be hoping history doesn’t repeat itself.
Main image: Staffordshire captain James Kettleborough celebrates reaching his century against Herefordshire. Picture: David Peters