Staffordshire’s Championship encounter at Suffolk ended in a draw – but not before they had flirted with pulling off an unlikely success.
Suffolk batted for the majority of the third and final day at Copdock before declaring at tea on 306-6.
That left Staffordshire requiring 260 to win in 33 overs in the searing East Anglian heat – and James Kettleborough’s men didn’t shirk the challenge.
They sent out a revamped batting line-up to try to chase down that testing target, but ultimately shut up shop after losing wickets to close on 210-5.
There was a fitting end to the contest, though, as Staffs wicketkeeper Callum Hawkins – promoted to open the batting in the chase – pummelled a six off the final ball to bring up his maiden three-day century for the county.
‘Landmark’
Hawkins walked off unbeaten on 103 with huge cheers marking his ton after he sent the ball over the ropes.
Supporters and team-mates rushed to congratulate the Moddershall & Oulton youngster on his superb innings, which contained 11 fours and three sixes.
Staffordshire sent Liam Hurt, fresh from his batting blitz on day two, to open with Hawkins as the visitors eyed a fast start.
Hurt did pongo one six out of the ground, but in attempting to send another maximum into orbit, he skied the ball and keeper Jacob Marston pouched the catch to give Jack Beaumont the first wicket.
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That wasn’t necessarily the start Staffs would have wanted, but out to the middle strode Sam Atkinson to join club-mate Hawkins.
The pair advanced the score to 85 in the ninth over before Atkinson, who hit three fours and two sixes, fell for 34 off 18 balls when he provided George Rhodes with a catch off wrist spinner Freddie Heldreich.
Still, Staffordshire were up with the required rate at that point and would have had more than half an eye on achieving the improbable.
‘Setbacks’
But in the next eight overs, their hopes were realistically ended as they lost three wickets.
Beaumont accounted for Reeve Evitts (9), while Heldreich did the same for Michael Hill (12) and Matt Morris (4).
That left Staffs on 129-5 entering the final hour of play where a minimum of 16 overs have to be bowled.
Kettleborough ventured out at number seven to link up with Hawkins with the primary aim of not giving Suffolk a sniff of winning.
The hosts stuck men around the bat to try to increase the pressure, but the Staffordshire duo stood up to it manfully.
Any chance Staffs had of knocking off the runs had been placed well and truly on the back burner – and Suffolk’s hopes were quashed as they couldn’t find another breakthrough.
‘Magic moment’
So all that was left was to see whether Hawkins could manage to make it to three figures.
Last season he made 99 in a Trophy fixture against Shropshire at his home ground of Moddershall & Oulton – but he wasn’t about to miss out this time.
He middled a few shots at fielders when he was on 97, but then his moment arrived.
He sent Suffolk skipper Beaumont for six before the home leader and Kettleborough, who made 28 not out, shook hands on a draw.
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The evening entertainment was in stark contrast to the first two sessions of the day.
Suffolk resumed on 58-1 on day three, but with a narrow lead of 11.
And after losing and drawing one each of their first two outings, Suffolk’s ambition was to make sure they didn’t suffer another defeat.
However, Staffordshire also knew that a couple of early wickets would enable them to push for victory in their own right.
They did pick up a scalp when Beaumont edged a rising delivery from paceman Hurt to keeper Hawkins to fall for 39.
But that proved to be Staffordshire’s only success of the morning session as Ollie Burle and Rhodes carved out a crucial partnership to take their side to 164-2 at the break.
‘Spin king’
A draw looked to be favourite at that point, but spinner Tom Brett broke their alliance with just the second ball of the afternoon.
He enticed Rhodes (43) to nick to Kettleborough at slip, who took a fine, low catch.
Staffs had let a couple of opportunities slip through their grasp as the day unfolded, but there was no questioning the determination and effort put in by the players in such hot conditions.
Brett struck again when Kieran Pell missed a reverse sweep and was bowled for 27, before Marston inside edged a Morris delivery to Tom Moulton at short leg.
Suffolk were 211-5 at that point – and Staffs were aiming to quickly wrap up the innings to leave themselves with a manageable chase.
But Burle was still in residence and Heldreich blasted 50 to dash those hopes.
And with Burle on 96 not out at tea, from a mammoth 245 balls, Suffolk opted to declare their innings closed.
It wouldn’t have been a surprise if Staffordshire had just decided to bat out the overs to ensure the draw.
However, they accept the challenge thrown down by their rivals and attacked with gusto.
At the start of the innings it looked like an incredible victory could be on the cards, but quick wickets scuppered their chances.
Still, Staffordshire’s players and spectators had the chance to see Hawkins achieve his personal landmark off the last ball of the game.
And whatever had happened before, that moment was well worth it.
Main image: Callum Hawkins scored his maiden Staffordshire century in the draw with Suffolk. Picture: David Peters