Staffordshire booked their place in the Super 12s stage of the NCCA Twenty20 Cup after sampling double delight against Cheshire at Burslem.
Staffs secured a six-wicket triumph in the day’s opening contest at Festival Heights before clinching a 17-run victory in the second to advance to the next stage.
The twin wins mean that Staffordshire are guaranteed a place in the top three of Group One – enough to maintain their interest in the competition.
However, there is still work to do when they make the trip up play Cumbria at Carlisle next month.
The winners of each group will earn home advantage in the Super 12s stage – and Staffs, depending on other results in the coming weeks, left Burslem knowing two wins on their final day of group commitments will earn them that reward.
The successes over Cheshire also earned Staffs the Bailey Gill Shield, which is played for between the two counties every season.
‘Great entertainment’
It proved to be a fascinating day of T20 cricket as both sides went into the day knowing it was pivotal to their chances of qualifying for the next round.
Staffordshire captain James Kettleborough won the toss for the first clash and opted to bowl.
He then saw an excellent fielding and bowling performance limit their near-neighbours to 143-9 from their 20 overs.
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Paceman Liam Hurt grabbed 3-24 for Staffs and there were a couple of wickets apiece for Sam Atkinson and Ollie Walker.
Nils Priestley (48) gave Staffordshire a blistering start to their run chase before the baton was passed to skipper Kettleborough (45no) to see his side over the line with eight balls to spare.
The runs certainly flowed in match two – and once again Kettleborough won the coin flip, but this time opted to bat.
Staffordshire weren’t so quick out of the blocks, but eventually managed to reach 190-3 from their allocation.
That was down to a maiden county half-century for Dan Lincoln, who finished on 75 not out, plus a quickfire 72 from Kettleborough.
That looked like being a daunting target for Cheshire to chase down to ensure they earned some reward from the day.
Sam Perry compiled a superb century to keep them in the hunt and leave the outcome finely balanced heading into the dying embers.
He was ably supported by Fred Vaughan-Hawkins, who chipped in with 43.
But the rate increased beyond manageable levels and Hurt’s 4-29, plus 3-23 from Jake Garlick, limited Cheshire to 173-9.
‘Early success’
Staffs made an early breakthrough in the opening game of the day when slow left-armer Priestley bowled Vaughan-Hawkins for four.
However, Cheshire were ticking along nicely courtesy of Dan Newton (20) and Perry (34) during the powerplay.
They had advanced the score to 53 in the seventh over before the latter picked out Garlick in the deep off the medium pace of Ollie Walker.
Newton was also heading back to the pavilion shortly afterwards when he provided Garlick with another catch off spinner Tom Brett.
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Staffordshire’s impressive fielding was a feature of the day – and they put the squeeze on Cheshire to good effect.
Henry Murray delivered a couple of lusty blows to make 30, but in the 15th over he departed to Atkinson with just 107 runs on the board.
Thereafter, wickets fell frequently as the visitors chased runs in the closing stages.
Kevin Carroll, always a dangerous operator in the short format, made 21, with skipper Harry Dearden chipping in with 18.
But Staffs would have been happy with their lot in restricting Cheshire to a seemingly-manageable score.
‘Quick start’
Priestley was soon into his stride in Staffordshire’s run chase.
He smashed two fours and four sixes in his rapid innings to leave Staffordshire well ahead of the rate.
Reeve Evitts, promoted to open the innings, was the first to fall when he edged to keeper Vaughan-Hawkins off Will Valentine in the fifth over. But crucially Staffs had 44 runs on the board.
They made excellent progress towards the halfway point of the innings, but then came the slightest hint of a wobble.
Lincoln fell for 17, Priestley was also accounted for and Walker was bowled as Staffordshire slipped from 77-1 to 86-4.
But there were no issues with captain Kettleborough at the crease and with the bit between his teeth.
He found a willing ally in Matt Morris – suitably recovered from his pre-game dressing room panic – as Staffs knocked off the runs in relative comfort.
Kettleborough was in free-flowing form and Morris walked off unbeaten on 16.
Staffordshire took first use in the afternoon contest – and saw openers Priestley and Evitts depart inside nine overs to leave them 58-2.
‘Important partnership’
That left Lincoln and Kettleborough at the crease and they carved out a crucial 126-run stand for the third wicket to power the home side to their total.
Lincoln, a winter recruit after leaving Berkshire, registered his first 50 for Staffs with a fine innings, and in all hit seven fours and one six in his knock.
Kettleborough was dismissed in the final over for 72, having faced just 34 balls and hit seven boundaries and five sixes.
‘Ebbs and flows’
That chase was always going to be testing for Cheshire, but they gave it a mighty good go – and at one stage may even have been in the driving seat.
They fell to 30-2 in the fourth over, but then Perry and Vaughan-Hawkins joined forces to drag their side back into contention.
Staffs didn’t part the pair until the 11th over when Hurt tempted Vaughan-Hawkins to hole out to Garlick running in from the boundary.
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Cheshire had 107 on the board at that point – and despite losing Matthew Strong and Dearden quickly, they were left needing 48 off five overs.
Perry was motoring through towards his century – and if he was still there at the end, it was fairly safe to assume that Cheshire would be taking the points.
However, a couple of decent overs left the visitors needing 25 off the final 12 balls, which proved to be too much.
Perry, having struck 10 fours and three sixes in his 100, was dismissed by Hurt, who then had Andrew Jackson caught by Morris.
Cheshire required 20 off the final over, but Garlick took the scalps of Alex Young and Xander Selby to leave them short of their target.
‘Work to do’
It was a hugely profitable day for Staffordshire, who looked like they were moving through the gears in their T20 campaign.
It’s not job done yet – the prize of group winners is still up for grabs.
And it’s a reward Staffordshire will want in their possession when they head back from Cumbria after their final double header.
Main image: Dan Lincoln recorded his maiden Staffordshire half-century as the county booked their place in the Super 12s stage of the NCCA Twenty20 Cup. Picture: Roger Byrne