Staffordshire face a knockout contest this weekend – but head coach Chris Milward says his players are well-versed in that particular scenario.
Staffs welcome Lincolnshire to Bignall End on Sunday for the final instalment of their NCCA NV Play Trophy Group Two campaign.
And the stakes couldn’t be higher. With Norfolk having already clinched one of the two qualification places from the group, the winners of Staffordshire’s match will join them in the quarter-finals.
That might dictate it’s a pressure encounter, but Milward says Staffs have been in this position in the last two matches.
After losing to Norfolk in their first game, Staffordshire have bounced back to win at Bedfordshire and Northumberland.
They now need to make it a victory hat-trick to ensure that they progress to the last eight for the first time in four years.
‘Upward curve’
“We’ve only ever talked about getting better at 50-over cricket and, so far, it feels like the players have done that,” said Milward.
“That’s what we keep pushing the players on – to keep improving. Bedfordshire was effectively a knockout game and we won that. Lose and we’re out of the competition.
“It was the same scenario at Northumberland, we had to win the match. That’s going to be the case on Sunday, otherwise we’re eliminated.
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“If we can nail our processes then the outcome will take care of itself. After losing to Norfolk, we’ve taken steps in the right direction in the last two matches.
“Winning becomes a habit. You find ways to win in different circumstances. We just want to keep driving the players forward.”
Staffordshire continued their upward trajectory last weekend with a 68-run success against Northumberland at Jesmond.
‘Leading the way’
Captain James Kettleborough won the toss and elected to bat, but saw his side lose two wickets in three balls to slip to 35-2.
However, Kettleborough and Ollie Walker both made 95, while Dan Lincoln added 38, as Staffs eventually posted 292-9 from their 50 overs.
Kettleborough and Lincoln initially put on 74 for the fourth wicket, before the skipper and Walker added 144 for the fifth.
“It was a bit of a rebuild for Ketts and Lincs after an encouraging start,” added Milward.
“They used their heads and batted the situation and looked like they were starting to dominate. Then there was the partnership between Ketts and Ollie which allowed us to kick on.
“Ketts has been really prolific for us in this competition and showed plenty of skill and steely determination. He’s the person that we’ve batted around in this competition.
“We’ve talked about the importance of building a platform to enable us to do what we want to in the final 10 or 15 overs. We always say someone has to get a big score.
“You are going to struggle to post a total if you don’t – but we had two really good partnerships that were important.
“The innings ebbed and flowed. After 10 overs, we’d have been happy with 290 and ultimately it proved to be a decent total on a wicket that was helpful to bowlers.”.
‘Spin to win’
Northumberland openers Alasdair Appleby and Haydon Mustard then compiled a 76-run stand to give the home side a solid start.
However, the game turned as Staffordshire spinners Tom Brett and Matt Morris bowled their combined 20 overs for just 57 runs, while picking up four wickets between them.
That saw the required rate climb and when the big-hitting John Oswell fell late in the day, Northumberland’s hopes were over.
‘We know we’re a good side, it’s just a case of proving it’
Walker capped a fine day by scooping four wickets to wrap up the Northumberland innings for 224.
“It was a really positive day. That’s how you play 50-over cricket, you put a score on the board, a decent total. Then we had a really patient defence of that total,” explained Milward.
“We didn’t take a wicket in the first 10 overs, but there was no panic. The players stayed level and stayed in the game. Bretty then made the breakthrough and it was a really measured and confident performance.
“Bowling 20 overs of spin at Jesmond with the short boundaries and going at under three runs per over, that was a really good effort from Bretty and Moz.
Captain leads the way as Staffs pick up Trophy win at Bedfordshire
“Bretty and Moz are two different types of spinner, but they fed off each other well.
“It got to the point where it was all on Oswell and we know how destructive he can be. But Ollie’s second spell, he showed his skills and changed his pace up. He certainly clinched the game for us.
“The scoreboard pressure then came into play. You don’t have things your own way all of the time, but we hung in there.”
Main image: Staffordshire head coach Chris Milward is looking for his side to make it three NCCA NV Play Trophy wins in a row. Picture: David Peters