Staffordshire secured their first NCCA NV Play Trophy win of the season with a 34-run success against Bedfordshire at Ampthill Town.
James Kettleborough’s third one-day century for the county proved to be integral to their victory at his former home.
The ex-Beds batsman compiled an excellent 104 – arguably his best limited overs innings for Staffs – to provide the backbone of his side’s 231 all out.
Kettleborough certainly played a captain’s innings as he rescued Staffordshire from a precarious 13-2 to a defendable total.
He shared a third-wicket stand of 88 with Reeve Evitts, who made 51, and a fourth-wicket alliance of 93 with Ollie Walker (37).
However, from a promising platform of 194-3 in the 42nd over, Staffordshire allowed their hosts back into the contest as they lost their last seven wickets for 37 runs.
They would have been looking for a score in excess of 250.
New surroundings excite Staffordshire all-rounder Ollie Walker
In reply, all-rounder Evitts claimed 3-46 – and there were two wickets apiece for Sam Keeling-Wright, Jake Garlick and Tom Brett – as Bedfordshire were bowled out for 197.
It was a much-needed win for Staffordshire after they were beaten by Norfolk at West Bromwich Dartmouth last weekend.
They can now travel to Northumberland for their next Group Two contest in good heart as they look to maintain their qualification quest.
‘Runs on the board’
At a cool Ampthill, Kettleborough won the toss and elected to bat at a venue he knew all too well from his Bedfordshire days.
There was plenty of life in the wicket, which meant life was challenging for Staffs openers Sam Kelsall and Matt Morris.
Indeed, the latter survived a hugely-confident appeal for caught behind early in his innings – but he couldn’t go on to capitalise.
Morris was pouched off paceman Jamal Richards, who had earlier accounted for Kelsall, caught at fine leg hooking a short delivery.
Evitts was soon given a warm ‘welcome’ to the crease when a James Anson delivery struck him in the chest, while he soon grateful to be wearing a box as Richards arrowed one below waist height.
Expansive shots were well and truly put in the locker as Kettleborough and Evitts set about playing no-risk cricket in a contest Staffordshire could ill afford to lose if they were to maintain their aspirations to qualify for the knockout stages.
It might not have been the modern trend of one-day cricket, but it whetted the appetite of those spectators who relish a challenge between bat and ball.
‘Stand broken’
The Staffordshire duo managed to see their side to drinks, but on the resumption – and shortly after reaching his half-century – Evitts perished.
Having hit six fours and one six in his innings, Evitts looked to slog-sweep spinner Archie Houghton, but only saw his stumps rearranged.
Still, Staffordshire had stemmed the tide – and Walker proved to be a more-than-willing ally for his captain as the innings headed towards the business end.
Walker wasn’t afraid of dealing with any poor deliveries, slamming a couple of sixes in his key contribution.
But having helped Kettleborough to advance the score to 194, he was snapped up in the deep by Zaid Faleel off seamer Jake Tarling.
However, Staffordshire now had the chance to put their foot down having kept wickets in hand for their late assault.
‘Brakes applied’
As it was, the accelerator jammed as Bedfordshire fought back impressively to make sure Staffs didn’t get away from them.
Anson returned to account for Dan Lincoln, Callum Hawkins and Sam Keeling-Wright – the latter not impressed with his decision – as Staffs fell to 214-7.
Captain Kettleborough was still in residence and he reached his deserved ton to much acclaim from the travelling Staffs supporters.
Kettleborough remains optimistic despite opening Trophy defeat
It was a particularly poignant moment as Kettleborough raised an armband with the initials ‘ATC’ emblazoned on it – a tribute to former county head coach Andy Carr.
Jack Batchelor was caught by keeper Matt Taylor off Richards, before Kettleborough fell lbw to Tarling.
His innings contained nine fours and one six.
And it was all over when Richards (4-36) skittled Jake Garlick. Anson, equally as impressive, took 3-41.
‘Fast start’
Staffs needed a similar start to their rivals with the ball if they were to crank up the pressure.
And new-ball pair Garlick and Keeling-Wright duly obliged.
Garlick tempted Tarling to nick to second slip, where Walker just about clung on to a sharp chance.
Keeling-Wright was then in on the act, when he beat Nabil Moughal for pace to leave Bedfordshire 22-2.
Faleel and Taylor set about on their own rescue mission and shaped up nicely to keep Staffs at bay.
But with the score on 62, Faleel needlessly nibbled at an Evitts delivery and provided keeper Hawkins with a routine take.
And it was 97-4 – and Staffs edging into the driving seat – when Walker unseated Taylor with a beauty.
Such was the ebb and flow of the contest, though, that Bedfordshire were soon nudging their way into the pound seats.
Richards, who hit a clean ball, and the dangerous George Thurstance, joined forces to chip away at their target.
They put on 44 for the fifth wicket, but in the 36th over, Richards was trapped lbw spinner Tom Brett to depart for 40.
‘Crucial wicket’
The key scalp for Staffs, however, was that of Thurstance with 10 overs remaining.
The Bedfordshire skipper had made 29, but in attempting to hit Brett over the top, could only skew the ball to Batchelor at deep cover.
Beds required 74 from the final 60 balls – although they had lost a wicket or two more than they would have liked.
Their task became harder when Houghton spooned Evitts high into the air and Lincoln took a fine catch.
Henry Redmayne was soon following his team-mate back to the pavilion when he tried to go big off Keeling-Wright, but only presented Morris with a catch at mid-off.
Bedfordshire were 183-8 at that juncture – and it seemed only a matter of time before Staffs wrapped up matters.
So it proved as Evitts and Garlick dismissed Oscar Phillips and Joe Lowe to bring the curtain down on a productive Bank Holiday Monday.
Main image: Captain James Kettleborough scored a century as Staffordshire won their NCCA NV Play Trophy game at Bedfordshire. Picture: David Peters