Staffordshire banked another two NCCA Twenty20 Cup points on a day of contrasting fortunes against Shropshire.
Staffs secured a 32-run win in the day’s first Group One clash at Wem to ideally back up their victory and tie against Northumberland last weekend at Stone SP.
But the afternoon affair went south for Staffs as they were on the receiving end of an emphatic eight-wicket defeat as their hosts bounced back in style.
It wasn’t the worst outcome by any stretch for Staffordshire, who would have gladly taken five points from their first four matches in the group stage.
However, there would have been an air of disappointment that they couldn’t back up their first-game effort with another rich bounty.
It was Ollie Walker (36), Nils Priestley (34) and Matt Morris (24) who made the decisive contributions with the bat in Staffordshire’s 143-7 in the first fixture after they had been invited to take first use.
Shropshire flew out of the blocks in reaching 50 in just five overs in reply, but the squeeze then came from Staffs.
Regular wickets were taken – Jake Garlick and Liam Hurt picking up 4-17 and 3-17 respectively – as Shropshire could only muster 111-9.
‘Hosts bounce back’
Staffs were once again asked to bat first in game two and needed Walker’s 51 not out and Joe Hawkins’ unbeaten 33 to see them to 148-5.
Once again, Shropshire made a rapid start… but this time there was no let up as Sahal Malvernkar compiled 91 not out to complete a comfortable win.
Staffordshire made their own impressive opening to day’s curtain raiser as openers Priestley and captain James Kettleborough put on 42 for the first wicket in handy time.
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Priestley fell for 34 when he was trapped lbw by Ben Roberts, before Dan Lincoln miscued a shot off spinner Anis Raza to Joe Stanley at mid off.
And Staffs were in a bit of bother on 53-3 when Kettleborough fired a return catch to Connor Marshall in the eighth over.
The visitors were in a rebuilding phase at that point – and Reeve Evitts and Ollie Walker set about the task.
They had progressed the score to 92 before Evitts’ slog sweep into the leg side off Matt Simmonds went high into the air and the Shropshire man toddled off across the square to take the catch.
But Staffordshire were still optimistic of a positive total with Walker at the crease – who was joined by Morris.
Walker hit two fours and two sixes, but with the score on 115, he perished.
He couldn’t quite get enough to launch seamer Oliver Smith over the ropes and was pouched by Joe Johnson in the deep.
Morris exited shortly afterwards and Joe Hawkins was accounted for as Staffordshire hunted late runs.
‘The big squeeze’
Shropshire were intent on making a quick start – which they did – but Staffs nibbled away to take wickets.
Johnson flicked a catch off Sam Keeling-Wright to Morris at mid-wicket, with the same Staffs fielder taking Malvernkar off Hurt.
The key moment, though, was the third wicket for Staffordshire, with the scoreboard totalling 51.
The experienced Tom Fell looked to play a pull shot off Hurt, but could only disturb the bails and was out hit wicket.
Staffordshire sensed their chance at that point and virtually cut off Shropshire’s scoring opportunities.
And as the rate began to climb, so did Shropshire’s desperation to play some big shots to keep themselves in contention.
Marshall (12) and Finley Jones (21) were both dismissed by Garlick, aided by fine catches by Hawkins on the leg side.
Shropshire were 97-6 at that juncture with just six overs of their innings remaining.
Morgan Ward fell to Hurt, while Garlick added another double in sending Joe Stanley and Raza back to the pavilion as Shropshire limped to their final tally.
‘Pegged back’
It was Staffordshire taking first use once more in game two – and the innings followed a similar path to their morning effort.
Priestley made 25, but Kettleborough, Lincoln and Evitts all exited the action for single figures.
Walker found himself trying to mastermind another recovery as the visitors were 51-4 after 10 overs.
The winter recruit didn’t disappoint, though, as he linked up with Morris once more to breathe new life into Staffs.
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Morris chipped in with 19, but fell with the score on 94 in the 16th over.
But Walker found another willing ally in Hawkins – and the pair played impressively in the closing stages of the innings.
Walker hit four sixes in his 35-ball 51 not out, while Hawkins struck four boundaries and one maximum in his 33 not out.
‘Quick off the mark’
Shropshire put their foot to the floor in their chase – again – but this time Staffordshire couldn’t reel them in.
Malvernkar and Johnson flayed the ball to all parts. And when they were parted, after 6.3 overs, Shropshire already had 74 on the board.
Walker was the main to break the stand when he dismissed Johnson for 23.
However, the home side had broken the back of the target, but they continued to rattle along at a fair pace.
Malvernkar raced to his 50, with Fell making a run-a-ball 27.
With the winning line in sight, Fell departed, but Malvernkar saw the job through with 11 balls to spare.
He walked off unbeaten on 91, an innings which took just 51 balls and included 10 fours and four sixes.
It wasn’t the way Staffordshire wanted to the day to end, but at least more points have been put on the board.
And they still sit top of the group standings, level on points with Northumberland, who beat Cumbria in both matches.
Main image: Staffordshire seamer Jake Garlick took 4-17 in the first-game victory over Shropshire in the NCCA Twenty20 Cup. Picture: Pete Stonier