Staffordshire were crowned NCCA Championship Division One East champions with a 67-run victory over Buckinghamshire.
It was just shy of the midway point of the afternoon session on the third day when off-spinner Oliver Tucker crashed one into the pads on Tom Weymes to win an lbw verdict to secure the divisional title for Staffs.
Bucks were all out for 179 and their hopes of keeping hold of the overall NCCA Championship crown had been dashed.
The final day of the encounter at High Wycombe had seen both sides convene with aspirations of finishing top of the pile and advancing to the Championship final against Berkshire at West Bromwich Dartmouth next month.
A day of tension was expected – and although the action only made it into the afternoon session, it was cricket entertainment played at a fast pace.
Proceedings might have been played at break-neck speed, but it was Staffordshire’s spinners who brought the Division One East title back to these parts for the first time since 2019.
Buckinghamshire had been set 246 for victory – and the defence of their crown – after taking the final three Staffs wickets in the morning to dismiss them for 229.
‘Spin twins do the damage’
However, despite the odd flurry of big hitting, Staffordshire had a firm grip on proceedings as Master Tom Brett and Apprentice Tucker shared nine wickets to bamboozle the home side.
When Bucks strode out to start their chase, Staffs would have just about been favourites to win on a wicket offering plenty of assistance.
Still, Staffs knew that Buckinghamshire had talent in their batting unit who had the capability to deliver when it really mattered.
Staffordshire skipper James Kettleborough would have liked a couple of early scalps to hammer home his side’s authority, but even he couldn’t have envisaged the start they made.
Inside four overs, Bucks had tumbled to 6-3 as Brett and Liam Hurt made big impressions.
Brett deceived opener AJ Woodland in his first over and had him stumped by Callum Hawkins for a duck.
Eliot Callis then propped forward to a Hurt delivery, but only provided catching practice to Sam Atkinson at second slip.
And the dream start continued when Vansh Jani could only nick a Brett ball to Hurt, fielding on his knees in the slips.
‘Home resistance’
However, that sort of opening couldn’t possibly continue, especially with Ross Richardson and Alexei Kervezee occupying the crease.
The pair opted to play fairly aggressively and had added 80 for the fourth wicket to take their side to brink of lunch – and a potential platform for an afternoon assault.
But from dreaming of tucking into the their food only three down, Bucks reached the interval on 86-5 as Staffordshire stuck twice in quick succession.
Staffordshire head coach Andy Carr is all smiles after the title win. Picture: Allan Smith
Richardson, having made 47, edged Tucker to Hawkins, before Kervezee was bowled by Brett for 28.
In the context of the encounter, those two scalps and the timing of them proved to be virtually match-winning.
On the resumption, Buckinghamshire opted to take on Staffordshire’s bowlers as they realised that prodding their way to their target was never an option on a wicket which always contained a ball with a batter’s name on it.
‘Hitting out’
But while Bucks were swinging wildly, it was Staffs who were landing the cleaner punches to ensure it was the home side who were feeling the pain.
Danny Chapman and Tom Hampton added 47 in the early stages of the afternoon session as they hit a couple of sixes apiece.
However, their alliance was ended when Hampton (22) looked to sweep Tucker, but guided his shot into the hands of Kettleborough who had dashed from slip to leg slip.
Ed Bragg was trapped lbw by Tucker for a single – and didn’t look too pleased about the decision – before Chapman’s breezy 40 concluded with him dragging a Brett delivery on to his stumps.
At 149-8 the game was virtually up for Buckinghamshire, even though Connor Haddow had a bit of fun in making 21.
But he was the ninth wicket to fall, with the total on 171, when he ran past one from Brett (5-74) and Hawkins whipped off the bails.
Staffordshire were tantalisingly close to the winning line at that point.
‘Memorable moment’
And the magic moment arrived when, with the scoreboard showing 178, Tucker (4-65) pinned Weymes lbw.
Brett ended the contest with 12 wickets in the match, but there was something quite fitting that youngster Tucker, who only made his debut a week ago, should take the winning wicket.
Skipper Kettleborough celebrated wildly at slip before the Staffs players embraced to round off a remarkable 10 days.
When they played Suffolk at Stafford, there was a chance Staffs could actually be relegated from the division.
Staffordshire enjoy the moment after winning the NCCA Division One East title. Picture: Allan Smith
They achieved their second-highest successful run chase in winning that contest, before dusting themselves down and emerging victorious in Bucks’ own back yard.
That turned them from relegation candidates to divisional winners in the blink of an eye – and hopefully this is just the start.
It’s only the second season under Kettleborough and head coach Andy Carr. And already they have won the Twenty20 Cup and now the Division One East title.
It’s now on to West Brom for the four-day final, starting on Sunday, September 1, against Division One West winners Berkshire.
This season could yet get even better.
Main image: Staffordshire beat Buckinghamshire to win the NCCA Championship Division One East title. Picture: Allan Smith
