Staffordshire all-rounder Sam Atkinson enjoyed a day to remember in the opening chapter of the county’s NCCA Cluberly Championship game against Northumberland.
The 21-year-old picked up career-best figures of 7-51 to skittle hosts Northumberland for 155 on the first day at South Northumberland Cricket Club.
Atkinson’s haul, which saw him surpass the 5-70 he claimed against Lincs at Checkley last summer, came from a marathon 19.5-over stint – which was only broken by the lunch interval.
And Atkinson then played a critical role with the bat, alongside Dan Lincoln, to keep Staffordshire afloat in the north east after they had run into some early batting problems.
Staffordshire slumped to 61-6 in their reply – Matt Oswell taking 4-45 – before Atkinson and Lincoln carved out a 68-run stand for the seventh wicket to drag the visitors towards parity.
Lincoln fell for 44, but Atkinson was there at the close on 46 not out as Staffordshire reached 161-8 – a lead of six runs.
He will resume on day two with debutant Joe Thorne, who is unbeaten on 15.
‘Early honours’
It was fitting that Thorne was there at the end after being awarded his Championship cap for making his Staffs debut on what was his 19th birthday.
And there two other presentations, with Reeve Evitts and Liam Hurt being capped by the county.
Staffs would have been happy with their lot after home skipper Ollie McGee won the toss and opted to bat.
Both sides went into the encounter knowing that victory was key if they were to have any aspirations of being crowned Division One East champions at the end of the campaign.
Northumberland, though, would have been left pondering what might have been after reaching 70-2 at one juncture prior to Atkinson running through their line-up.
There weren’t too many indications of the wicket-laden day which unfolded when Northumberland openers Harry Crawshaw and Sol Bell put on 45 for the first wicket in 15 overs.
However, they were parted when Bell (26) – who had already been given a life by Staffs – was snapped up by captain James Kettleborough at first slip off Atkinson.
And his partner Crawshaw (18) was soon following him back to the pavilion when he smashed a short ball from Liam Hurt into the grateful hands of Jack Redman at mid-wicket.
Still, it was a game of cat and mouse as the morning session developed, but it was Staffordshire who nosed themselves in front by reducing the home side to 84-5 at the interval.
With the slow wicket offering some nice assistance, Kettleborough stuck with his seam trio of Hurt, Thorne and Atkinson.
‘Super Sam’
It was Atkinson who was filling his boots in the wicket stakes, though, as he went into the break with four victims to his name.
Ross Whitfield edged to Sam Kelsall in the cordon, Rory Mustard was trapped lbw and Jonny Bushnell departed to a fine catch by Thorne on the leg side.
The lunch interval proved to be a temporary interlude to the fast-paced action.
‘Team win was more important than personal glory’
Alasdair Appleby, who had battled impressively for his 41, was the sixth wicket to fall – with the score on 111 – when he was bowled by Atkinson.
John Oswell was Atkinson’s next victim when he found the hands of Hurt at slip, before the catcher became the wicket-taker when he bowled Matthew Oswell.
Northumberland were 142-8 at that point – and it didn’t take Staffordshire long to wrap up the innings.
George Stephens was run out, while Joseph Stuart was bowled by Atkinson to leave the Modd man in seventh heaven.
‘Double blow’
Staffordshire had a tricky seven-over spell to negotiate before tea – and they lost openers Kettleborough and Sam Kelsall in that passage in putting 28 on the board.
Kettleborough offered a return catch to seamer Bushnell, while Kelsall was given out caught behind by Mustard off Matthew Oswell.
And Staffordshire’s predicament didn’t improve in the formative stages of the evening session.
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Keeper Mustard helped himself to a quickfire double behind the stumps – off Bushnell and Oswell respectively – account for Tom Moulton and Reeve Evitts.
At 46-4, Staffs were in huge bother, but their slump continued as Northumberland’s pacemen cranked up the pressure.
Matt Morris nicked an Oswell delivery to Mustard, while Redman offered no shot to a ball which moved significantly from Oswell and saw his off stump pegged back.
‘Fighting back’
There was the very real prospect of Staffs having to bowl again on the first day, with a couple of hours still to go.
However, Lincoln and Atkinson ensured that Staffordshire repelled the hosts’ attack.
They didn’t go into their shells, but mixed positive strokeplay and strong running which watchful defence.
But as their stand was moving through the gears, they were parted when Lincoln chopped a delivery on to his stumps from spinner McGee.
Hurt was expertly snapped up at slip by Whitfield off left-arm seamer Stuart to leave Staffordshire on 136-8.
Staffs rallied once more, though, as debutant Thorne helped Atkinson to push Staffs into the lead by the time stumps were drawn – a prospect which hadn’t looked likely.
It was a breathless day of cricket in the north east, but Staffordshire did show some much-needed fighting spirit.
They will be aiming to reach at least 175 to bank a precious batting bonus point when the action resumes.
At the end of the season, such fine margins could prove to be decisive.
Main image: Sam Atkinson starred with bat and ball for Staffordshire on day one against Northumberland. Picture: Roger Byrne