Staffordshire and Buckinghamshire served up a tense opening day in what could be an NCCA Championship title decider.
In a final round of matches where all four sides playing – including Suffolk and Lincolnshire – could win the Division One East title, the next three days are likely to have thrills and spills before the outcome is known on Tuesday evening.
So it was probably a touch understandable that both Staffs and Bucks spent the day sussing each other out in the opening exchanges at High Wycombe.
Staffordshire went into the clash top of the pile and four points clear of their hosts.
Skipper James Kettleborough called correctly at the toss and opted to have a bat – and saw his side reach 275-8 before he declared with a couple of overs of their allotted 90 remaining to stop Bucks from picking up maximum bowling points.
Staffordshire’s innings was centred around half-centuries from the in-form Reeve Evitts and Callum Hawkins.
Lichfield-born Evitts hit a fine 93, while Hawkins added an unbeaten 65 before time was called by Kettleborough.
Tom Moulton carried on from his twin 50s in the victory over Suffolk with a patient 43. Spinner Connor Haddow picked up 5-92 for the home side.
Buckinghamshire then reached 68-2 at the close with wickets book-ending their short time at the crease.
‘Early woe’
On a wicket which offered assistance throughout, Kettleborough had no hesitation in batting after the coin landed in his favour.
But Staffordshire’s innings got off to a nightmare start when the captain himself was trapped lbw from the first ball by seamer Cameron Parsons.
That was hardly the start Staffs required as they looked to put a sizeable score on the board on day one.
However, that early setback was soon allayed by fellow opener Matt Morris and Moulton.
They put on 37 in 14 overs before Morris departed for 22 when he was bowled by Parsons.
Staffs were not in the mood to let Bucks dictate matters, though, and Moulton and Evitts played watchfully as they ensured that the visitors managed to reach lunch without further alarms.
Staffordshire dined on 99-2 from 37 overs, which highlighted to testing nature of batting on this particular High Wycombe pitch.
It was one which Staffordshire gradually got to grips with as the afternoon session unfolded.
Moulton and Evitts had just celebrated their century partnership when their alliance came to an end.
Moulton was the man to go when he fell to Ed Bragg for his 43.
And it was soon 161-4 when Michael Hill was an lbw victim to Haddow.
‘So close’
Evitts was looking in fine touch, though, and was in touching distance of a second Staffordshire century.
But that eluded him when, having made 93, he was bowled by Haddow. Evitts hit 11 fours in his innings.
Staffs required an injection of pace into matters at this point, while also being wary of giving away cheap wickets.
It was Hawkins who was the man for the occasion as he quickly settled into his stride to keep the scoreboard ticking over.
Either side of the tea interval – which Staffs took on 216-5 – he stroked eight fours and two sixes.
Sam Atkinson lent support with 15, as did Liam Hurt, before Staffordshire’s innings was brought to a conclusion.
‘Spin king’
After Haddow’s success with his spin, Staffs skipper Kettleborough threw the new ball to county tweaker Tom Brett.
It was a move which reaped instant reward when Vansh Jani propped forward and edged to Kettleborough at first slip.
However, like Staffs’ early dismissal, Buckinghamshire shook that off as Eliot Callis went on to the attack.
Opener AJ Woodland, playing his first match of the season, was content to drop anchor while Callis took centre stage.
It looked like the duo would guide the home side through to stumps, but off-spinner Oliver Tucker struck in the dying embers of the day.
He bowled Callis for 43 to pick up his maiden NCCA wicket for Staffordshire.
Woodland and Tom Weymes saw Bucks through to stumps to bring an end to an intriguing day.
Staffordshire will be hoping that late success for Tucker might be the sign of things to come for the team on day two.
In the other match in the group, Lincolnshire posted 326-9 against Suffolk at Copdock. Suffolk are 94-0 overnight.
Main image: Oliver Tucker picked up his first NCCA Championship wicket for Staffordshire.
