Staffordshire head coach Andy Carr admitted there was a sense that an opportunity had been missed in their Bank Holiday NCCA Knockout Trophy double header.
Staffs opened their Group Two campaign with a relatively comfortable victory over Herefordshire on Sunday.
But their hopes of making it back-to-back successes were dashed on Monday when Suffolk prevailed in their meeting at Bignall End.
Suffolk posted a formidable 312-6 from their 50 overs, but Staffordshire were not daunted by the high chase.
Matthew Morris (55), Nils Priestley (50), James Kettleborough (43) and Michael Hill (26) all made starts, but Staffs lost wickets at key times and were eventually bowled out for 245.
“It was slightly frustrating on Monday. I always felt it was going to be a fast-scoring ground,” said Carr.
“We lost the toss, but would have bowled first because we thought it was going to be a difficult ground to defend.
“We probably let it slip a bit in the bowling department in the last eight overs or so and it would have been nice to have dragged it back to a score of 280.
Captain Ketts hits century to set Staffordshire on the way to NCCA Knockout Trophy win
“But we felt that 300 was chaseable and we were always up with it in the run chase. We needed one or two batters to get in and push on, but up to the 38th over we were in the game, especially with Nils (Priestley) and Hilly (Michael Hill) at the crease.
“Unfortunately some batters were out due to poorly executed shots. We felt 100 to 120 off the last 10 overs was gettable as long as we had wickets in hand. But losing Nils and Hilly left us with too much to do.”
‘Early promise’
Staffordshire have endured a couple of tough seasons in this particular white-ball format.
Since Carr and captain Kettleborough took on their respective roles ahead of the 2023 summer, Staffs have failed to progress beyond the group stages.
However, the signs were positive on Sunday as Kettleborough’s 105 underpinned Staffs’ 275 all out at West Bromwich Dartmouth.
Herefordshire were then reduced to 147-9 before James Rudge launched a counter-attack with 62 to push the visitors up to 215 all out.
“Pleasingly, we ticked off many of the things we discussed in the winter on Sunday,” added Carr.
“On Sunday it was the type of blueprint we want for our 50-over cricket. The lads bowled well, fielded with great energy and batted fantastically well. It was almost the perfect plan.
“We refocused on those on Monday. We just fell short against Suffolk with the bat after we had four lads who got themselves in.
“Ketts (James Kettleborough) was unfortunate, it was an unbelievable catch by George Rhodes. Those are match-winning, game-changing moments. Two or three yards either side of him and it was four runs.
“But it rolls on from the past two years where we’ve started with a win and then let things slip.
“Everything is in the right order and everything we discuss is correct, but we didn’t quite execute things against Suffolk.”
‘Work to do’
One area which Carr will be keen to address is Staffordshire’s bowling in the closing stages of an innings.
Herefordshire’s Rudge enjoyed himself against Staffordshire’s attack on Sunday, while Suffolk scored 109 runs off the final 10 overs at Bignall End on Monday, led by Josh Cantrell’s 27-ball 54 not out.
“I think we probably got a bit misconstrued with our plans in the last few overs in both games and on both occasions two lads have come off,” explained Carr. “Our lengths were slightly off.
Disappointment for Staffordshire as Suffolk bank NCCA Knockout Trophy points
“But that happens in cricket and it was down to not executing our plans at the death.”
Staffordshire are back in NCCA Knockout Trophy action on Sunday when they make the trip to Shifnal to play Shropshire.
Before that, though, they face Leicestershire in two Twenty20 matches at the Uptonsteel County Ground on Friday.
The matches start at 11.30am and 3.30pm and admission is free for all Staffordshire members on production of their 2025 membership card.
Main image: Staffordshire head coach Andy Carr says his side could have made it back-to-back NCCA Knockout Trophy wins. Picture: David Peters
