Staffordshire left their NCCA NV Play Trophy fate firmly in their own hands with a comfortable victory over Northumberland.
Staffs won the Group Two clash at Jesmond by 68 runs to set up a winner-takes-all clash against Lincolnshire at Bignall End on Sunday.
Lincolnshire were defeated by Norfolk in the day’s other contest, which ensured the East Anglians progressed to the next stage of the competition.
And all eyes will be on Bignall End’s Boon Hill ground at the weekend to see whether Staffordshire or Lincolnshire join them in the knockout phase.
Staffordshire knew that victory in the north east was essential if they were to keep alive their hopes of advancing from the group stage after three years of failing to do so.
They put themselves in a handy position by amassing 292-9 from their 50 overs at the home of Newcastle Cricket Club.
Captain James Kettleborough and all-rounder Ollie Walker both made 95 to spearhead Staffs’ innings.
Jonny Bushnell finished with 3-45, while Robbie Dawson took a couple of wickets.
‘Spin is key’
Given the small dimensions of Jesmond, overhauling that target was always a possibility for the home side.
Haydon Mustard and Alasdair Appleby made 56 and 36 respectively at the top of the Northumberland chase.
However, the key passage of play was the introduction of spinners Tom Brett and Matt Morris.
‘We know we’re a good side, it’s just a case of proving it’
The duo sent down a combined 20 overs at a cost of just 57 runs while picking up four wickets bertween them in the process.
And although John Oswell (44) had a bit of late fun, the damage had been done and Walker mopped up the tail to end with 4-36 as Northumberland were dismissed for 224 in the 47th over.
Staffordshire were forced into a later alteration to their line-up when Jack Batchelor suffered a knee injury in the warm-up and was replaced by Rohan Vallabhaneni.
Kettleborough won the toss and, unsurprisingly, opted to bat first on a ground where quick scoring has been a common theme.
Staffs made a solid-enough start to their innings, with openers Matt Morris and Sam Kelsall putting on 35 for the first wicket inside six overs.
But the brakes were temporarily applied by Northumberland when they picked up both men in the pace of three balls.
Kelsall was bowled by Durham left-arm seamer Brett Hutchinson for 20, while Morris had his timbers disturbed by Bushnell to depart for 13.
‘Order change’
With Reeve Evitts unavailable, skipper Kettleborough pushed himself up to number three, with Dan Lincoln following him.
It was essential those two Staffordshire batters stemmed the tide to provide a platform for their side.
The pair did just that as they advanced the score to 109 in the 23rd over before they were parted.
Nick Archer pays tribute to former Staffs bowler David Blank
Lincoln, having made 38 full of hard-hitting shots, danced down the wicket to slow left-armer Joseph Stuart and nicked through to keeper Chris Youldon – who also whipped off the bails for good measure.
Then followed an intriguing passage of play which swung the momentum firmly in Staffordshire’s favour.
Kettleborough joined forces with Walker as the pair compiled a fourth-wicket partnership of 144.
The duo mixed smart running and punishing any loose deliveries to keep the scoreboard ticking over.
Kettleborough, who registered a ton in last week’s win at Bedfordshire, reached his half-century in 73 balls, while Walker was raising his bat after a run-a-ball effort.
‘Big hitting’
It seemed as though the Staffs pair would both bring up three figures, but remarkably, they were both out for 95.
Kettleborough, having struck seven boundaries and one six, was bowled by Max Williamson in the 46th over to leave the visitors on 253-4.
Liam Hurt swiftly followed, before Walker’s exhibitional knock also came to a conclusion.
Captain leads the way as Staffs pick up Trophy win at Bedfordshire
He’d lustily smashed five fours and half-a-dozen maximums, but couldn’t quite connect with another big hit and was caught by Williamson off Dawson.
Vallabhaneni, Callum Hawkins and Jake Garlick then all perished in the dash for runs as Staffordshire closed their innings just shy of the 300-mark.
‘Solid start’
They might have been hoping for a score somewhere in the region of 320, but it was still going to take a big effort from Northumberland to knock off the runs.
Firm foundations were laid by Mustard and Appleby – before Kettleborough employed spin at both ends in the form of Brett and Morris.
It paid off in the 13th over when Appleby fell to Brett, which slowed up the scoring rate significantly.
Brett and Morris gave the home batsmen little to hit as the run-rate started to climb to worrying levels for the home team.
In the next 17 overs, Northumberland only managed to add 57 runs to their total – while Staffordshire grabbed three more wickets.
Mustard, having hit eight fours in his half-century, fell to Brett, before the Staffs tweaker bowled Ross Whitfield, who had struggled to get going.
Morris then deservedly picked up a wicket by accounting for Harry Crawshaw to leave Northumberland on 128-4 in the 30th over.
New surroundings excite Staffordshire all-rounder Ollie Walker
The dangerous Oswell was still at the crease, though, and he opened his shoulders in a couple of overs to give warning to Staffordshire that he wasn’t about to give up without a fight.
But Staffs had their fifth wicket when Hurt returned for a second spell and had Bushnell caught behind by Hawkins for 12.
Northumberland were 177-5 at that juncture, needing 10 runs an over to pull off an unlikely success.
‘All over’
And their hopes were finally dashed when Oswell was caught by Kelsall off Walker to leave the hosts 192-6.
Walker quickly removed Dawson and Youldon, while Atkinson sent Williamson back to the pavilion.
It was all over by that stage and fittingly Walker picked up the final scalp when he bowled Stuart.
Staffordshire had shown their capabilities in winning at Bedfordshire on Bank Holiday Monday.
They needed to back that up here – and they did so in fine fashion.
It’s two wins down and one to go for Staffordshire in their hunt for a quarter-final place.
Can they achieve a victory hat-trick?
Main image: Ollie Walker scored 95 and took four wickets in Staffordshire’s NCCA NV Play Trophy win against Northumberland at Jesmond. Picture: David Peters