Staffordshire boosted their chances of qualifying for the latter stages of the NCCA Twenty20 Cup competition with twin wins over Cheshire.
Staffs, cup winners in 2023 and finals-day participants last season, prevailed in both Group One encounters at Nantwich to leave themselves with an excellent opportunity to reach the Super 12s section of the short format later in the summer.
James Kettleborough’s side still have to negotiate a double header against Cumbria to complete their group commitments next month, but their performances at Whitehouse Lane have left them in a promising position.
Staffordshire won the opening encounter over the county border by three wickets as they successfully chased down Cheshire’s 196-7 with three balls to spare.
They made hard work of matters, though, after being 132-4 at the halfway point before Cheshire battled back to arguably nose themselves in front.
But Matthew Morris’ unbeaten 52, plus 12 not out from Liam Hurt, ensured that Staffs kicked off the day in ideal fashion.
There was little doubt about the second match, though, as Staffordshire managed to secure that rare beast of winning two games in a day.
An excellent bowling performance limited Cheshire to 128-9 from their 20 overs, before Nils Priestley and Liam Banks broke the back of the target with a stunning opening stand.
Staffordshire did lose three wickets, but they romped to the winning line as they overhauled their target with more than eight overs to spare.
‘Positive start’
The day had started with Staffs skipper Kettleborough winning the toss and electing to field first in the derby duel.
Staffs were in impressive form with the ball as they reduced the home side to 49-3 in the ninth over as Rory Haydon struck twice and Morris also took a scalp with his off-spin.
But a remarkable passage of play turned the tables as Kevin Carroll and George Lavelle came together to compile a fourth-wicket stand of 71 in just 4.3 overs.
The small straight boundaries at Nantwich are conducive to quick scoring, but even so it was an eye-catching display of hitting, particularly from Carroll.
He was only at the crease for 17 balls, but plundered 50, which contained four fours and five sixes.
Lavelle was no slouch either, contributing 51, including five boundaries and two sixes in a 34-ball knock.
That left Cheshire motoring towards a hefty total, but Carroll fell to Haydon, before Banks accounted for Lavelle.
Staffordshire did well to actually keep Cheshire below 200 at that point as Haydon finished with 4-28, while Jack Corran made 16 and Michael Finan added 14 not out.
‘Quick out of the blocks’
The tone for Staffordshire’s run chase was set by Priestley, who smashed spinner Alex Money’s first ball over the ropes for six.
At the end of the opening over, Staffs were 24-0 as they went on the charge to make the most of the powerplay.
The visitors had reached 82-0 from just 5.3 overs when Priestley was the first wicket to fall.
He reached his half-century off just 18 balls, but departed for 63 four balls later, having hit eight fours and six maximums.
Banks was stumped for 24 to leave Staffordshire on 93-2 – and two wickets in the 10th over started to put the brakes on the innings.
Kettleborough departed to Rohan Luthra for 23 and Reeve Evitts followed three balls later.
Cheshire sensed that they could put the squeeze on Staffs and Callum Leese, Callum Hawkins and Sam Atkinson departed for single figures.
‘Cool heads’
At that point Staffs needed 29 from 3.2 overs – and needing to make sure they didn’t squander their good early-innings work.
Morris kept his cool, though, striking seven fours to see Staffs to the points alongside Hurt, who finished off proceedings by hitting Corran for a four and a six.
Kettleborough once again won the toss ahead of game two and went the same way in choosing to field.
And he then watched his side turn in an exceptional bowling performance to leave Cheshire firmly on the back foot.
Twenty20 Cup despair turns into delight for Staffordshire
Cheshire tumbled to 41-6 inside 10 overs as Staffs’ attack gained early rewards and offered no let up.
Those wickets included first-game batting heroes Carroll and Lavelle, although Money struck 30 to try to stem the tide.
There was a chance that the hosts might fail to reach three figures as they were reduced to 84-9.
‘Late intervention’
However, Finan (31no) and Andrew Dufty (15no) led them to 128-9 from their allocation.
Priestley, Liam Hurt, Atkinson and Banks all finished with two wickets for Staffs.
And the result wasn’t in doubt once Priestley and Banks got Staffordshire off to a flier in their run chase, putting on 65 in four overs.
Priestley helped himself to a second half-century of the day with 52, including three fours and five sixes, with Banks weighing in with 35.
Morris fell cheaply, but there was never any concern that Staffs wouldn’t walk away with the double.
Hawkins finished on 24 not out and Kettleborough made an unbeaten seven to make it a day to remember for the visitors.
The twin wins put them top of the group on eight points, although Northumberland, Cumbria and Cheshire all have games in hand.
However, after sharing the spoils in matches against Northumberland and Shropshire, it has left Staffs in a healthy position to extend their T20 Cup interest.
Main image: Nils Priestley hit half-centuries in both matches as Staffordshire did the double over Cheshire. Picture: Pete Stonier