NCCA Knockout Trophy: Dorset Pack a punch as shambolic Staffordshire are crushed

Peter Wilshaw

Staffordshire turned in one of their worst-ever one-day performances as they were crushed by Dorset at West Bromwich Dartmouth.

Staffs lost their Knockout Trophy Group Four match by nine wickets to leave seasoned county followers scratching their heads as to when they had witnessed a more inept display.

Few other contenders emerged after a day Staffordshire will want to forget – but really shouldn’t be allowed to – which virtually eliminates them from the 50-over competition.

Staffs had impressed in the Twenty20 Cup, despite narrowly missing out on qualification for finals day, which gave hope that the second instalment of white-ball cricket in the National Counties Cricket Association programme could prove to be a successful one.

The 50-over format has been a strong suit of Staffordshire’s in recent years, but this summer it appears as though that their interest will go no further than next weekend’s final group encounter at Buckinghamshire.

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