Staffordshire went close to forcing the most unlikely of victories before settling for a draw in their NCCA Championship game against Lincolnshire.
Staffs had the home side eight wickets down at Cleethorpes when the sides shook hands on a draw with Lincs well adrift of their target.
A superb 172 by Reeve Evitts – his maiden century for Staffs – and 56 from Rory Haydon had led a county recovery on the third morning.
Staffordshire had resumed on 106-7, leading by just 103 runs, but Evitts and Haydon’s efforts enabled them to eventually amass 296 all out.
That left Lincolnshire requiring 294 to take the points, but it was Staffs who looked the most likely to win as the game ticked into the closing stages.
The home side were reduced to 140-8 with 14 overs of the last hour to play – and for the first time in a long while in the encounter, Staffs looked favourites.
However, home skipper Tom Keast (67no) and Tom Currie (20no) dug in to repel the Staffs attack as Lincs drew stumps on 193-8.
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The mere fact that Staffordshire were contemplating winning in that last hour was a remarkable achievement in itself.
Even the most optimistic Staffs supporter wouldn’t have put too much money on them being able to stretch out the contest to the bitter end.
But Evitts, who was 49 not out overnight, was joined by Haydon for the morning session and they went about their work quietly and efficiently.
‘Record breakers’
In fact, they rarely looked in danger as they managed to navigate their side to 228-7 at lunch – and now with genuine hopes of saving the game.
Evitts not only chalked up his first county half-century, but built on that to reach three figures.
And it was a memorable day for Haydon as well as he reached 50 for the first time in Staffordshire colours.
The pair managed to put on 184 for the eighth wicket, which obliterated the previous landmark for that particular stand.
Peter Wilshaw and Craig Barker were the record holders having added 136 against Bedfordshire at Old Hill in 2011.
So Evitts and Haydon raced beyond that mark, but the ease with which they did so was also a good indication of how placid the Chichester Road wicket had become.
Lincolnshire captain Keast ran through his options, using nine bowlers in total in his bid to make a breakthrough.
‘Duo parted’
It took the introduction of the new ball to finally bring an end to Evitts and Haydon’s alliance.
Haydon was trapped lbw by impressive seamer Matty Mills. The all-rounder left to a huge ovation from the healthy number of Staff supporters.
Evitts then fell soon after an excellent innings. He was accounted for by spinner Joe Pocklington to end his 290-ball stay. That contained 20 fours.
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And when Tom Brett was bowled, Staffs were all out and had set Lincs a target which was beyond their wildest dreams.
Lincs looked like they fancied having a dart at knocking off the runs as they searched for a first win of the campaign.
They promoted Nic Keast up the order – and it was a ploy which initially worked as he slogged the ball to all parts of the ground.
‘Early success’
However, Staffs made an ideal start when Haydon produced a pearler to bowl Pocklington for a duck.
Keast was intent on flaying the ball. He struck eight fours and three sixes as he provided the hosts with a platform.
But Staffs held their nerve and chipped away at the other end. The dangerous Ben Wright played a poor shot and was bowled by left-arm spinner Brett for 20.
And Keast’s fun came to an end, having made 67, when he aimed a hoick at another Brett delivery and spooned the ball to Michael Hill.
That left Lincolnshire on 92-3 and Staffs’ tails were really up when the hosts fell to 108-4.
Jordan Cook, who made 166 not out in the first innings, was pinned lbw by Brett to depart for 11.
‘Digging deep’
It was always going to be Tom Keast who held the key as to whether Lincs could survive in the post-tea action.
A home win was now out of the equation. It was just whether Staffordshire could winkle out the remaining home side’s batting.
Qundeel Haider didn’t last long when he unleashed a flamboyant shot against Liam Hurt, but only nicked through to keeper Callum Hawkins.
Drew Sylvester fell lbw to Anis Raza for one as Lincs tumbled to 135-6.
And they were soon 140-8 in the early stages of the last hour of play.
Josh Knapton nicked Brett (5-48) to Hawkins. And the Staffs spinner completed his five-wicket haul when Joshua Joy was another lbw victim.
At that juncture the unlikely looked to be becoming more likely – a Staffordshire win.
But Keast was in no mood to surrender as he and Currie dug in to keep Staffs at bay.
‘Honours even’
And with every over which went by, Staffordshire’s hopes dwindled, before the sides settled on a draw with one delivery remaining.
There would have been a tinge of disappointment from a Staffordshire perspective that they hadn’t managed to pick up the final two wickets.
However, if you had said 24 hours’ earlier that they would have had a chance of winning, you might have got some sideways looks.
It was an heroic effort from Staffordshire on the final day as they showed plenty of fight, spirit and skill to at least earn a draw.
It was a cracking day of cricket and a fine advert for the NCCA.
Main image: Staffordshire spinner Tom Brett took five wickets on the final day against Lincolnshire. Picture: Alfie Shenton
