Staffordshire’s Championship season started at a frenetic pace as the wickets tumbled in the Buckinghamshire sunshine.
In glorious weather conditions in Chesham, defending champions Buckinghamshire won the toss and elected to bat.
However, they were bowled out for 211 as Liam Hurt grabbed three wickets, Sam Keeling-Wright, Jake Garlick picked up two apiece and Sam Kelsall also snared a victim.
Bucks were reduced to 68-5 at one point, but Bertie Foreman (51), Ed Bragg (44) and George Harvey (31) masterminded a recovery.
Staffordshire had their own new-ball struggles as they slid to 44-5 after tea as Bragg and Tom Weymes made merry.
But Dan Lincoln (28no) and Joe Hawkins (24no) batted for 24.2 overs together to lead their side to 95-5 from 42 overs at the close.
‘Bowlers hold sway’
The pre-game prediction was of making hay with the bat in the first Division One East game of the summer.
But as it was, it was a day where the bowlers posed plenty of problems for batters on a green wicket.
There was plenty of assistance for the seamers especially – and both sides utilised that superbly – although full value for shots were still on offer thanks to the quick outfield.
But there would have been batters on both sides who will have been disappointed with the mode of their respective dismissals.
It was a case of digging deep and seeing off the new-ball threat – weathering the storm if you will – before trying to cash in when the ball became softer.
The day had started off with Dan Lincoln and Keeling-Wright receiving their Staffs Championship playing caps.
‘Quick off the mark’
And despite losing the toss, Staffordshire made early inroads.
Paceman Hurt took just five balls to get Staffs on the board when he breached Billy Dodds’ defence to bowl the opener for a duck.
Hurt and new-ball partner Keeling-Wright quickly hit their straps to put Buckinghamshire under pressure.
The hosts were reduced to 7-2 when Aaryan Sawant poked at a Keeling-Wright delivery and edged to Kelsall at second slip.
And Staffordshire’s morning got even better when they struck twice in four balls with the score on 36.
Archie Dodds (7) was befuddled by a Keeling-Wright delivery to see his stumps rearranged before Matt Pardoe succumbed to Hurt.
He nicked to Reeve Evitts in the gully, who couldn’t cling on, but Kelsall showed sharp reactions to dive from slip to hold the rebound.
Aum Raykar and Foreman then set about a rescue mission as they put on 32 for the fifth wicket to temporarily stem the Staffordshire tide.
But the introduction of spinner Tom Brett broke their alliance as Raykar could only top edge a slog sweep to Callum Hawkins at deep square leg.
‘Fighting back’
Foreman was, crucially, occupying the crease and started to become more free-flowing as he settled into his innings.
He guided Buckinghamshire past the three-figure mark, alongside Josh Lincoln – but Staffordshire struck for the sixth time shortly before lunch.
Lincoln, attempting to leave a Garlick delivery, gloved the ball through to brother Dan behind the stumps, who took a tumbling catch.
Buckinghamshire reached the interval on 116-6 – it had been Staffs’ morning without a doubt – but the hosts rallied in the afternoon.
Foreman reached his half-century with six, having also struck seven boundaries, although he fell shortly after with the score on 150.
He took on a Hurt bouncer and was adjudged to have gloved the ball through to keeper Lincoln – a decision he seemed disappointed with.
Still, Bucks showed why they are the defending champions with a display of resilience from their lower order.
‘Key stand’
Bragg and Harvey put on 47 for the eighth wicket to push their side’s score along – and also show what could be achieved with occupation of the crease.
Garlick was the man to split the pair when Harvey edged to Lincoln – and Bucks’ innings was wrapped up reasonably quickly thereafter.
Bragg slapped spinner Brett to a juggling Evitts at mid-on, before Tom Weymes was caught behind by Lincoln off Kelsall.
Staffordshire had a tricky three overs to face before the tea interval – and came through unscathed on 4-0.
However, the start of the evening session followed a similar pattern to Bucks’ innings as wickets fell at regular intervals.
Seam duo Bragg and Weymes were the architects to leave Staffordshire in one heck of a pickle on 44-5.
‘Wickets tumble’
Bragg pocketed Bucks’ first wicket when Kettleborough nicked to keeper Harvey for a duck.
Weymes then got in on the action as Kelsall flicked a delivery to Billy Dodds at square leg to depart for eight.
Evitts looked to be getting to grips with the situation, hitting four fours, but after reaching 19, he offered no shot to Weymes and saw his off stump pegged back.
And the visitors slumped deeper into trouble with two wickets in successive Bragg deliveries.
Michael Hill (5) nicked to Raykar at slip, before Callum Hawkins did likewise to Pardoe in the cordon.
At that point there was the very real prospect of Staffordshire being bowled out before the end of the first day.
But just like their rivals, they showed some much-needed grit and determination to avoid further damage.
Lincoln and Joe Hawkins were the two men who were immovable objects in the remainder of the day.
Survival was the name of the game, with Lincoln facing 120 deliveries and Hawkins absorbing 65 before time was called.
Staffordshire will need more of the same from the pair on day two to eat into Bucks’ current advantage.
And they’ll also need their lower order to chip in, as their hosts’ did, to ensure they remain firmly in the contest.
It promises to be another absorbing day of cricket.
Main image: Liam Hurt picked up three wickets for Staffordshire. Picture: David Peters