Staffordshire were on the receiving end of contrasting centuries by Johnny Connell and Josh Lincoln as Berkshire seized control of the NCCA Championship final.
The showpiece had started so promisingly for Staffs as captain James Kettleborough won the toss, elected to field, and then saw his bowlers reduce Berkshire to 109-5 at West Bromwich Dartmouth.
However, Berkshire highlighted why they have been overall champions five times in the past decade by rallying superbly to reach 382 all out.
Staffordshire then negotiated six overs before bad light brought an early end to the first day’s play as they reached 9-0.
It was opener Connell and the big-hitting Lincoln who masterminded the recovery mission, with a little help from Matt Dalrymple, to push Berkshire into a commanding position.
Connell orchestrated proceedings with a patient 142, while Lincoln went into overdrive to pummel 15 fours and six sixes in his 98-ball 124 after coming in at number seven.
Staffordshire were hugely relieved to eventually see the back of the pair, but the carnage caused, primarily by Lincoln, left Berkshire sitting pretty heading into the second day.
‘Key strikes’
Staffs awarded left-arm spinner Tom Brett his county cap before wickets were pitched as they started their mission to try to win the final for the first time since 2014.
Berkshire had denied them that accolade five years’ ago with a tense one-wicket win at Banbury, but it was Staffordshire who landed the first blows in this latest instalment between the counties.
Sam Atkinson set the ball rolling when he induced an edge from opener Rhys Lewis, which was safely pouched by skipper Kettleborough at first slip to leave Berkshire 25-1.
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Connell was joined by Euan Woods and the pair negated Staffordshire’s attempts to make the most of their decision to bowl first.
There was the odd play and miss, but it wasn’t until the dying embers of the first session that Staffs managed to make further inroads.
And it was seamer Tom Moulton who was the mastermind as he struck with just the second ball of his spell.
From a date at Crewe to the NCCA Championship final…
He forced Woods (21) to chop on to his own stumps as Berkshire found themselves 86-2.
That swiftly became 99-4 when the players broke for lunch following the opening exchanges.
Charlie Dunnett was trapped lbw by Moulton for a single, before Berkshire captain Dan Lincoln nicked a Brett delivery to Kettleborough at slip.
‘Afternoon breakthrough’
Staffordshire just about held sway at that juncture – and they certainly did in the formative stages of the afternoon session.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Daniel O’Driscoll was the victim of an lbw verdict off the bowling of Brett to leave Berkshire precariously placed on 109-5.
Connell, his side’s anchor man, wasn’t fazed by losing his top-order mates – and Dalrymple emerged from the pavilion to display some positive intent.
He smashed seven fours in quickfire 41, to advance the score to 164, before he was heading back to the dressing room.
Dalrymple became off-spinner Oliver Tucker’s first scalp when he holed out to sub fielder Callum Leese – on for the injured Matt Morris – on the boundary.
Staffs may have had some genuine aspirations of wrapping up the Berkshire innings pretty swiftly at that point.
However, not for the first time in recent years, the multiple winners have found a way out of some tricky situations.
‘Exhibition’
Connell continued to bat at his own pace, but Lincoln, well known as a destructive player, produced an innings for the occasion.
Connell reached three figures off 194 balls, and there was little doubt that Berkshire bossed matters in the afternoon as they eventually took tea on a much-more promising 304-6.
Lincoln tucked into his butties on 99 not out – and there was the odd alarm for him, most notably when he was spilled on the mid-wicket boundary.
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And Staffs also had a confident appeal against him turned down early in the evening passage of play.
However, Lincoln, having counter-punched expertly, deserved his ton and reached it off a mere 85 deliveries.
His alliance with Connell was worth 171 in less than 30 overs before the pair were parted.
It was Lincoln’s innings which came to an end when he was snaffled by a diving Liam Hurt running in from the boundary off Brett’ bowling.
But he had more than done his job in wrestling back power from Staffordshire and he left the Sandwell Park arena to a great ovation.
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Toby Greatwood (15) launched Hurt to debutant James Abbotts on the boundary, before Connell’s knock was halted.
He was caught behind by keeper Callum Hawkins off Hurt to see the curtain come down on his 259-ball marathon.
And Berkshire’s innings was wound up when Brett (4-92) had Luke Beaven stumped by Hawkins.
‘Staffs change’
Staffordshire were forced into a batting rejig as Morris’ time off the field meant he was unable to open with Kettleborough.
Moulton moved up, and was given an early life when he was dropped in the covers following a spectacular diving attempt.
However, he survived, and so did Kettleborough to lead Staffordshire through to stumps.
That was one tick in the box for Staffs late in the day, but they face a huge task to try to keep themselves in the contest, even at this early stage.
Berkshire unleashed a flurry of punches to put themselves ahead on the judges’ scorecard… it’s now time for Staffordshire to land their own combinations.
Main image: Staffordshire had a tough first day against Berkshire in the NCCA Championship final at West Bromwich Dartmouth. Picture: Alfie Shenton
