Staffordshire face a pivotal second day in their NCCA Championship game against Suffolk after the opening exchanges ended relatively even.
Visitors Suffolk won the toss at Stafford and managed to find their way to 277 all out, fronted by half-centuries from George Rhodes and Josh Cantrell.
Spinner Tom Brett, battling through an injury, picked up 4-64 for Staffs, while seamer Liam Hurt claimed 3-60.
That was a pleasing effort with the ball from a Staffordshire perspective on a hot day and big outfield as minor counties cricket made a return to Stafford for the first time in 69 years.
And the merry band of officials and volunteers at the Riverway club pulled out all the stops to ensure that their big day was celebrated in style.
A big crowd was treated to some intriguing passages of play as both teams took time to weigh up the pitch and also cope with the ever-increasing temperatures.
And there were more than a few fingers crossed in the evening session as Staffordshire came through a 30-over period for just the loss of skipper James Kettleborough.
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Opener Matt Morris and Tom Moulton saw the home side through to the close on 79-1, still trailing by 198 runs, but knowing that they had achieved their primary aim.
However, with the maximum four bowling points in the bag, Staffordshire’s attention will now turn to try to do the same with the bat.
‘Points so vital’
In a division which has so far seen nothing but draws, bonus points could be a priceless commodity when it comes to even winning Division One East or merely staying in it.
So tomorrow will prove to be a crucial three sessions as the two counties jockey for a position of strength to take into the third and final day.
Staffordshire will have been happy with their work on the opening day as they limited Suffolk’s impressive top-order batsmen.
Staffs handed a debut to Meakins all-rounder Oliver Tucker, who replaced the unavailable Anis Raza in a late switch to the XI.
And before matters kicked off in earnest, Staffordshire batsman Michael Hill was the subject of a special presentation to mark his 50th NCCA Championship appearance for the county.
Hill might well have loved to have celebrated his landmark with a bat on a sunny Sunday in the county town, but it was fielding matters which were at the forefront of his mind after Suffolk captain Jack Beaumont called correctly and opted to bat.
The East Anglians made a positive start as well as they took advantage of a quick-scoring outfield.
‘Solid start’
Beaumont and opening partner Darren Ironside compiled a first-wicket stand of 52 inside 13 overs before they were parted.
Beaumont, having made 19, was undone by a delivery from paceman Liam Hurt which he could only nick to a tumbling Callum Hawkins behind the stumps.
Rory Haydon had bowled a probing spell without reward, but it was his replacement, Sam Atkinson, who made the next breakthrough.
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He tempted Ironside (41) to take on a back-of-a-length ball, although he only succeeded in skewing the ball high in the air where Brett majestically sauntered round from mid-on to take the catch.
That left Suffolk on 66-2, and they had advanced the score to 95 before Ben Parker became the third wicket to fall.
Atkinson was spot on with his line and length and pinned the visitors’ batsman in front for 14.
They were Staffordshire’s successes in the morning session, but it didn’t take them long to make further inroads in the afternoon.
‘Key breakthrough’
Rhodes and Alex Oxley were a key partnership for Suffolk, although the latter didn’t see much of the post-lunch action.
He was trapped lbw by Brett for 10 to provide the hosts with a crucial scalp.
It was all about staying patient for Staffordshire on a wicket which didn’t possess too much pace, but did show some hints of spin.
Skipper Kettleborough was intent on sitting in and building pressure rather than forcing the issue.
And it was a policy which reaped rewards when Jacob Marston, having made 12, was lured down the wicket by Brett and stumped by Hawkins.
Rhodes was showing his class at the other end, though, and he managed to reach his 50 with some classy strokes.
The initiative seemed to be swinging towards Suffolk as he was joined by Cantrell to advance the score to 217.
But Rhodes, having made 70, which contained 10 fluent fours, departed when Hurt charged in and won an lbw verdict.
Ronnie McKenna, on his Suffolk debut, didn’t last long as he feathered a Hurt delivery through to Hawkins to fall for a duck.
And at 219-7, Staffs might have had aspirations of wrapping up the visitors’ innings swiftly.
‘Resistance’
But NCCA sides do bat deep and Cantrell was in no mood to give Staffordshire a leg up when it came to wickets.
He played nicely, although he fell after reaching 51 when he was stumped by Hawkins off Brett.
Tom Harper (28) and Mackenzie Jones (15) added some valuable late runs, but were accounted for by Brett and Haydon respectively.
That was a positive for Staffordshire, although they knew that not losing too many wickets in the evening session held the key.
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As it was, Kettleborough was the only casualty when he flicked a Rajan Singh delivery to Harper at backward square leg to exit for 17.
That left Staffordshire on 30-1, but Morris (32no) and Moulton (24no) played watchful to ensure there were no further alarms.
The pair have done the hard work in providing a platform for Staffordshire heading into day two.
The key is now to build on that and, hopefully, establish some form of lead which could prove to be crucial heading into the latter exchanges.
Main image: Liam Hurt picked up three wickets for Staffordshire on the opening day against Suffolk. Picture: Alfie Shenton
