James Kettleborough says he was proud of his players’ efforts in Staffordshire’s NCCA Showcase Game defeat by Warwickshire.
Staffordshire lost by 122 runs in Sunday’s clash at Knypersley in the annual fixture against a first-class county.
Ed Barnard’s superb 143 had helped Warwickshire to post 316-7 from their 50 overs at Tunstall Road.
And although Kettleborough struck 77 in Staffs’ reply, they were dismissed for 194.
However, the Staffs skipper insists there was plenty to take from the day.
“You look at the scorecard and ideally we would have wanted the margin of defeat to be smaller,” said Kettleborough.
“Sometimes the scores don’t tell the full story. We were playing high-quality opposition.
“I really enjoyed it as a captain and the lads really got stuck into the occasion.
“It was a great challenge for us and the players will certainly have benefited from it.
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“Ed Barnard played exceptionally well. It was a high-class innings – one that we don’t see at NCCA level.
“You could say his innings was the difference, but at the start if we’d have been told Warwickshire would get 316, we would have still felt like we were in the game.
“It was good to watch as a cricket fan and a challenge to captain against it.”
‘Bowlers impress’
Warwickshire may have broken through the 300-run barrier, but Staffordshire’s attack did impress.
Seamers Sam Atkinson, Rory Haydon and Jacob Garlick rose to the challenge, while spinners Tom Brett and Anis Raza also bowled nicely.
Raza, in particular, came in for some early treatment, but recovered well to finish with 3-71 from his 10 overs.
“We are fortunate that we have the experience of Liam Hurt in our attack, but he was away on club duty,” added Kettleborough.
“We had a young seam attack, but they could all hold their heads high with how they performed.
“Anis was brilliant. The conversations we were having between deliveries were about different ideas and plans.
“He wasn’t fazed by being hit and you have to remember that we are not facing that quality of opposition every week.
“Anis might have gone at seven-an-over, but that’s not a reflection on how he bowled and he thoroughly deserved his three wickets.”
‘Tough task’
Staffs needed several batsmen to make significant scores if they were going to put any pressure on Warwickshire.
However, bar Kettleborough’s half-century, there wasn’t another big contribution as seamer Michael Booth and spinner Jake Lintott picked up three wickets apiece.
“When you are chasing a score of that magnitude you need a couple of players to get 80s,” explained Kettleborough.
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“It’s a young, inexperienced batting line-up and it was a good challenge to face that level of bowling.
“The good thing is spending time in the middle against the pros and seeing how they go about their business and the variations they have in the locker.
“Personally, I can be bowled for a duck and be frustrated I didn’t get a century. Or I can be out for 100 and be disappointed I didn’t get 150.
“Being a batsman is all about being greedy, but it was good to take on the Warwickshire bowlers.”
‘On the road’
Staffordshire now turn their attention back to NCCA matters with a Championship Division One East trip to Cleethorpes to play Lincolnshire this weekend.
And Kettleborough says, despite losing to Warwickshire, they are in good spirits as they head to the coast.
“All of the conversations we had after the game were positive,” he said.
“Our youngsters came away from Sunday’s game with loads of learnings and if we can take those into this weekend we will be in a really good place.”
Main image: Staffordshire captain James Kettleborough was pleased with his side’s performance in the NCCA Showcase Game against Warwickshire. Picture: Pete Stonier