Reeve Evitts admits he wasn’t prepared to let a second opportunity to join an illustrious Staffordshire club pass him by.
Evitts became the youngest Championship double century maker in Staffordshire’s history as the county crushed Cambridgeshire by an innings and 111 runs at Checkley in the NCCA Championship last week.
Evitts compiled a superb 207 not out to power Staffs to 461-5 from their 90 overs in reply to Cambs’ first innings 152 all out.
The visitors were then bowled out for 198 second time around at Four Trees.
The 21-year-old’s innings, which contained 20 fours and 10 sixes, saw him join an elite club of county batsmen who have reached that particular landmark.
His knock was the sixth highest individual score since the club’s formation, with only Tim Maxfield (221 v Bedfordshire in 2013), Edmund Bourne (216no v Surrey 2nd XI in 1922), Reg Halton (212 v Yorkshire 2nd XI in 1952), Roy Smith (209 v Bucks in 1948) and Alex Mellor (208no v Suffolk in 2015) sitting ahead of him in the list.
Graeme Archer (201no v Norfolk in 2003) and Paul Shaw (200no v Buckinghamshire in 2003) are the other members of the club.
‘Record breaker’
Evitts, though, takes the accolade for being Staffs’ youngest double centurion from Maxfield, who was 22 when he achieved his feat.
It was the Wolverhampton all-rounder’s second three-day ton for Staffs, having made 172 on his debut against Lincolnshire at Cleethorpes in 2024.
“It’s definitely one of the best days I’ve had playing cricket,” said Evitts.
Staffordshire 2nd XI claim victory over North Wales
“It’s a new highest score for me as well. I felt when I scored that 172 against Lincs and got out, whether I’d ever get another opportunity to reach 200.
“So it’s nice to be able to get a second chance and take it. In all honesty, I wasn’t sure it was going to be possible.
“I came out after lunch on 123 and we still had 16 overs to bat, but it never crossed my mind that I could get 200.
“My main focus was to hit a few boundaries and see what kind of total we could get the team to.
“It’s a really special feeling to achieve what I did.”
‘Huge partnership’
Evitts shared a 248-run stand with Tom Moulton, who made 96, to lay the foundations for Staffordshire’s score, which was the fourth highest team total in the county’s history.
The pair came together on the first evening, with Staffordshire on 80-2 – and weren’t parted until the second afternoon.
Super Sam’s wicket-taking rhythm gives Cambridgeshire the blues
However, Evitts concedes his didn’t see his record-breaking knock coming after the start he made to his innings.
“In the evening on day one, I felt like I was going to get out every ball,” admitted Evitts.
“I then had a hit in the morning with Wilsh (Pete Wilshaw, assistant coach) and felt awful.
“I told him my game had just disappeared overnight and I wasn’t sure why.
“He just said ‘this might sound a bit silly, but focus on the ball’. And that worked out pretty well.”
‘Working well’
Evitts says he enjoyed his key partnership with Moulton which put Staffs in a commanding position.
Moulton surpassed his previous best of 77, but within touching distance of a maiden Championship ton, he was trapped lbw to end his alliance with Evitts.
“Tom’s a great lad and he’s a really good mate,” added Evitts.
‘We laid down a challenge to the players and they delivered’
“We’re a bit different in our batting styles. He’s more switched on at the crease, while I’m laid back.
“But those attributes together seemed to work well.”
Paceman Sam Keeling-Wright was another Staffordshire hero as he claimed 8-60 in the first innings and 5-41 in the second to finish with match figures of 13-101.
It was the perfect response to the disappointing 187-run defeat at Buckinghamshire in the opening Division One East game of the season.
‘Silverware focus’
Evitts says that they now have to build on the win as they also chase glory in the T20 Cup.
Staffordshire are through to the Super 12s stage of the competition, which will be held at Evitts’ home ground of Wolverhampton on Sunday, August 9.
“We showed what we’re about at Checkley after that tough start against Bucks,” said Evitts.
“I might be biased, but we have one helluva team and beating Cambridgeshire gives us an opportunity in the last two Championship matches.
“We’ve also got to aim for the T20s as well – and there’s no reason why we can’t succeed.”
Main image: Reeve Evitts scored a double century for Staffordshire in the NCCA Championship victory over Cambridgeshire. Picture: Roger Byrne