NCCA Championship day two report: Staffordshire pushing for victory after stunning recovery

Staffordshire County Cricket Club seamer Dan Gibbs

Staffordshire are in a strong position to push for victory in their opening NCCA Championship game of the season at Bedfordshire following a remarkable second day.

Staffs had started proceedings struggling on 62-4 as they replied to Bedfordshire’s 296-5 on the first day of action in Division One East.

They slid further into trouble on 78-6 before Tim Maxfield, Dan Richardson and Paul Byrne all hit half-centuries to enable the visitors to establish an unlikely 63-run lead as they closed their allotted 90 overs on 359-9.

Porthill Park seamer Dan Gibbs then produced a stunning new-ball spell to pick up 5-9 as Bedfordshire collapsed to 43-7 in their second innings – and facing the real possibility of an innings defeat.

James Kettleborough and Alex Evans stopped the rot with a partnership of 91, but by the close Beds were 161-8 – and leading by just 98 runs going into the final day.

The day’s events marked a barely-believable turnaround from Staffordshire’s point of view as they went into day two trying to salvage the poor situation they found themselves in.

Read the full story

Pictured: Porthill Park seamer Dan Gibbs produced a superb new-ball spell to leave Staffordshire on course for victory over Bedfordshire