Staffordshire cruised into the NCCA Dojo Twenty20 Cup finals day with an emphatic victory over Lincolnshire.
Staffs completed a seven-wicket win against Lincs to ensure they made it to the showpiece event for the third time in four seasons.
Lincolnshire had earlier beaten Cheshire by three runs in the eliminator for the right to meet Group One winners Staffs in the final.
But they were no match for James Kettleborough’s side, who produced an excellent bowling display to limit their rivals to 115-8 from their 20 overs.
Sam Keeling-Wright was the star turn with the ball for Staffordshire as he took 3-17 from three overs, while Sam Evans’ 29 was the top score for Lincs.
Nils Priestley (47) and Dan Lincoln (29no) then made light work of that target as Staffs romped home with 5.5 overs to spare.
Staffordshire had moved through the gears in winning their group – but saved arguably their best performance of the competition for the Super 12s day.
‘Home comforts’
A tweak in the rules meant that group winners automatically advanced to the final on their home ground, with the teams paired with them battling it out to maintain their interest in the cup.
Staffordshire had endured mixed fortunes since the Super 12s stage was introduced into the format ahead of the 2024 season.
In the maiden campaign, they trounced Norfolk and Hertfordshire on the outskirts of Norwich to move through to finals day.
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But last year they flopped in losing to Norfolk and Herefordshire at Moddershall.
So home advantage was no guarantee of success for Kettleborough and his men, but they delivered a display reminiscent of that day in East Anglia.
That means they will now head to Wormsley on Sunday, August 30 – alongside Berkshire, Devon and Bedfordshire – as they attempt to emulate the class of 2023 who lifted the trophy for the first time in the county’s history on a memorable day at Tring Park.
‘Bowlers dominate’
It was Lincolnshire captain Nic Keast who won the toss and, unsurprisingly opted to bat after witnessing first hand the lay of the land in the eliminator triumph over Cheshire.
But it was Staffordshire’s bowlers who took centre stage as they – by and large – produced an excellent performance across the 20 overs to restrict Lincs.
It was Keast, a dangerous player at the top of the order, who was the first to fall with the score on 21 in the fourth over.
He attempted to ramp seamer Keeling-Wright, but missed and had his stumps rearranged as he departed for seven.
His opening partner, James Laud, was the next to fall as looked to play exactly the same shot to Jake Garlick – but the end result was the same. He made 14.
Lincolnshire made their way to 60-2 in the ninth over after a period of rebuilding from Ben Wright and Sam Evans.
However, in the space of four overs they had slumped to 71-6 as Staffordshire kept a firm grip on proceedings.
‘Collapse’
Wright (9) pulled the medium pace of Ollie Walker to Liam Hurt in the deep, before Evans fell for 29 when he slapped Keeling-Wright to Priestley at mid-wicket.
Keeling-Wright then bowled Pranav Pothula, while Freddie Gosnell was deceived by spinner Tom Brett as he advanced down the pitch and was stumped by Dan Lincoln.
Amartya Kaul and Tom Currie attempted to breathe new life into Lincolnshire’s innings, but time wasn’t on their side as they joined forces in the 14th over.
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They added a breezy 23, before Currie was run out by Joe Hawkins’ direct hit in the covers to exit for 10.
Matty Mills looked to keep Kaul (19no) company, but he fell in the closing stages when he was caught by Walker off Hurt.
‘Off to a flier’
With such a below-par total to defend, Lincolnshire desperately needed quick wickets to put pressure on Staffs.
However, Priestley and Reeve Evitts took 12 off Keast’s first over and then 13 off Mills’ opener to put paid to that plan of action.
Lincs did manage to find a breakthrough, but that came in the fifth over and Staffs already had 42 on the board.
Seamer Kaul arrowed one into Evitts’ pads to trap the Staffs all-rounder lbw for 11.
The groundwork had been laid by Staffordshire, though, and they weren’t about to slow down the momentum.
They had plenty of time on their side, but Priestley and Lincoln were in no mood to drag the contest out.
Keast turned to more spin in the shape of Seamus Nazir, but his opening over disappeared for 14 runs as Staffordshire raced towards the finishing line.
There was an element of surprise when the duo were actually parted.
Priestley’s knock, which contained seven fours and one six, was ended when his dive to make his ground attempting a second run fell short and Keast whipped off the bails.
Kettleborough (14) departed with the winning line in sight, but Walker emphasised the easy nature of the win by smashing a six to complete matters.
Main image: Staffordshire all-rounder Ollie Walker smashes a six to beat Lincolnshire in the Super 12s final of the NCCA Dojo T20 Cup. Picture: David Peters