Staffordshire’s title hopes are over for this summer – but they will still have a big say in who are crowned NCCA Division One East champions.
A second successive day of run-filled action at Stafford’s Riverway headquarters ended with Suffolk on 210-3 – a lead of 255.
But Buckinghamshire’s impending emphatic victory over relegated Cambridgeshire will temporarily put them at the top of the standings.
So that means Suffolk must win against Staffordshire to book their place in the Championship final at West Bromwich Dartmouth next month.
The Suffolk players and coaches will no doubt have spent time mulling over the permutations of how many runs to potentially set their hosts in a final-day run chase.
It’s a delicate balancing act for them as they need to dangle a carrot to ensure that Staffordshire don’t just shut up shop, while also leaving themselves enough time to take the 10 wickets required to extend their red-ball campaign.
It promises to be another entertaining chapter in what has been a great contest at Stafford.
‘Action packed’
And the second day was no different, with Staffordshire resuming on 97-2 in reply to the East Anglians’ 398 all out.
Dan Lincoln’s maiden century for Staffs since his winter move from Berkshire – he top-scored with 165 – plus a third Championship ton for Matt Morris (125) were the eye-catching contributions to the home side’s 353-9 declared.
At one point it looked like Staffordshire may even draw level with the visitors, but a flurry of late wickets dented those aspirations.
And, more importantly from a Suffolk perspective, enabled them to bank bonus points which could be crucial to the overall title outcome.
Staffs’ first mission on day two was to reach 175 to secure the one batting point required to confirm their Division One status for next season.
Morris and Lincoln duly obliged to achieve that particular objective – and despite the odd scare as Suffolk spurned a couple of chances, they negotiated their way through the morning session without being parted.
Morris sat down at the interval with three figures to his name, reaching the landmark in 198 balls and hitting 11 fours in the process.
Staffordshire took lunch on 222-2 – and still had a good number of overs to bat in the afternoon to put pressure on Suffolk.
Lincoln produced some big-hitting either side of the interval, but his alliance with Morris was eventually ended.
‘Stand ended’
Their third-wicket partnership was worth 242 – and had advanced the total to 289 – before Morris had a swipe at a delivery from Tom Harper delivery and was bowled.
And one breakthrough became two for Suffolk when Michael Hill quickly fell after being stumped by Jacob Marston off Josh Cantrell for two.
Staffordshire still harboured hopes of getting close to Suffolk’s first-innings total, but the visitors had a spring in their step after their long wait for wicket success.
Day One report: Runs aplenty in opening exchanges at Stafford
Cantrell started to work his way through the home line-up as Staffordshire attempted to put their foot down.
Cantrell (4-40) accounted for three-day debutant Callum Leese, who made 17, Liam Hurt and Sam Atkinson.
At the other end, Harper (3-116) picked up the scalp of Lincoln, who holed out to Darren Ironside in the deep. His knock contained 11 fours and six sixes.
He then dismissed Jack Redman prior to Staffordshire bringing an early end to their first foray to the crease.
‘Same story’
Having opted to concede that first-innings deficit, Staffs would have wanted to take some early Suffolk wickets to give their rivals a scare.
However, Suffolk’s innings followed the trend of their day one effort as they scored far too freely – with openers Alex Maynard and Nico Boje guiding them to 79-0 off nine overs at tea.
And with each development in play at Peterborough – where Cambs faced Bucks – it soon became apparent that Staffs’ hopes of title success were over.
They still had a job to do with the ball, though, as the evening action got underway in Stafford.
They had to wait until the visitors had put 120 on the board – inside 18 overs – to pick up their first wicket.
Boje was the man to fall when, having just reached 50, he was caught and bowled by Atkinson.
Maynard was the next to depart, the total showing 152, when he was trapped lbw by spinner Tom Brett, having made 72.
Brett claimed his second wicket with the scalp of Marston, but Ironside kept Suffolk in control of matters with a well-constructed half-century.
In fact, he was 51 not out at the close – and looking well set – when time was called for the day.
‘Hopes and dreams’
So that all points to an intriguing final day in prospect at Riverway.
Staffordshire can’t finish top, but will want to end their campaign on a high note.
It was a couple of years ago that they knocked off a score in excess of 300 to beat Suffolk at this same venue.
That will be in the back of Suffolk minds, possibly, but they have their eyes on the divisional prize.
It could be a day of ecstasy and agony at Stafford to end the Division One East season.
Main image: Matt Morris, left, and Dan Lincoln both hit centuries for Staffordshire on the second day against Suffolk. Picture: David Peters