Callum Leese delivered a man-of-the-match performance to inspire Staffordshire 2nd XI to victory over their Cheshire counterparts.
Staffs kicked off their season with a 78-run success in the 50-over contest against their neighbours at Knypersley.
And Hem Heath all-rounder Leese played a prominent role in the win, scoring a century and also taking three wickets with his off-spin.
Leese top-scored with 108 as Staffordshire reached 285-7 from their allocation after skipper Jack Hammond had won the toss and elected to bat.
Leese’s century came at the ideal time for the home side, who had been left on 69-3 in the searing Tunstall Road heat.
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But opener Ethan Berlusconi proved to be a willing ally as he made a big impact himself, making 99.
The pair put on 140 for the fourth wicket after the early dismissals of James Abbotts, Rohan Vallabhaneni and Amir Khan.
It was a partnership which proved to be the cornerstone of Staffordshire’s innings – and the only disappointment was that Berlusconi was bowled by Josh Leach within a run of a deserved ton.
Leese did pass three figures, though, before he fell in the closing stages of the innings. His contained eight fours and four sixes and came at a run a ball.
Will Espley was the pick of the Cheshire attack, finishing with 3-52.
‘Early success’
Staffordshire looked to be sitting pretty after the interval as double strikes from Joe Thorne and Josh Hudson reduced Cheshire to a precarious 49-4.
However, Cheshire had their own middle-order ton-maker in the form of Liam Clorley.
He steadied the ship alongside Zak Rogers, who was content to be the junior partner in a stand worth 116 for the fifth wicket.
Spinner Reid Taylor split the pair when he accounted for Rogers for 34.
But the decisive moment of the run chase came with the Cheshire score on 185-5 as Leese picked up the first of his three scalps.
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Clorley, having hit 11 fours and four maximums in an excellent 105, skipped down the track to Leese and was stumped by some sharp glovework by Hammond.
That wicket virtually ended any hopes Cheshire had of knocking off their target.
Leese, who claimed 3-20 from his seven overs, helped to mop up the tail as Cheshire were eventually bowled out for 207 in the 42nd over.
Taylor also ended up two wickets, alongside the new-ball pair of Thorne and Hudson.
Main image: Callum Leese scored a century and took three wickets in Staffordshire 2nd XI’s win against Cheshire. Picture: Pete Stonier