Tom Moulton believes Staffordshire’s impressive victory over Suffolk highlights the potential within the squad.
Staffs’ side which prevailed in the NCCA Championship game at Stafford featured six players – including Moulton – aged 21 or under.
Reeve Evitts, Rory Haydon, Sam Atkinson, Callum Hawkins and debutant Olly Tucker were the other youngsters donning the Staffs Knot in the county town.
And faced with a tough-looking challenge of knocking off 307 in 65 overs to win the game, it was the young guns who rose to the occasion.
Moulton top-scored with 77, while Evitts (53) and Hawkins (50) also recorded half-centuries, before Atkinson blasted an unbeaten 35 to seal a five-wicket win with five-and-a-half overs to spare.
The win moved Staffordshire to the top of the Division One East table, four points clear of Buckinghamshire, who they play in the final round of matches at High Wycombe, starting on Sunday.
‘Special success’
“That’s what we play cricket for, especially the three-day stuff,” said Moulton. “It was a very good win. A lot of the lads chipped in and that makes the win more special for us.
“It shows the signs of a good team. We are not relying on certain individuals to get us over the line. All of the top order made contributions.
“You don’t want just one or two contributing with bat and ball – it’s a team effort and that’s a big positive for us.
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“We all play against each other on a Saturday and the youngsters know each other from Staffordshire age-group cricket.
“It’s good times to be a part of – a good team environment.
“There’s a great buzz around the dressing room after the three days that we’ve just had and I can’t see why that wouldn’t carry on.
“It’s a good group. Everyone is really positive, but we can’t afford to look too far ahead.
“That’s part of the game and that’s makes it even more exciting. We’re a tight group.”
‘Run-chase belief’
Moulton insists that Staffordshire were always confident that they could overhaul the target set by Suffolk following their lunchtime declaration.
And in achieving it, Staffs recorded their second-highest successful chase in the county’s history.
“We absolutely felt we could chase it. We had a rough idea what we would be set,” added Leek all-rounder Moulton.
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“I can remember speaking to Hilly (Michael Hill) and we said we were feeling confident on that ground because it was racing away with pace on the ball.
“It would have been more of a challenge if it was going to turn. If it had done, the challenge would have looked a little bit different.
“But we all believed we could chase it down going at just over fours, why couldn’t we?”
‘Batting movement’
Moulton edged seamer Mackenzie Jones to Jack Beaumont in the slips to end his excellent second-innings performance.
He was shifted down to number five for the run chase, but says that didn’t really alter his approach – it was more the match situation.
He stood momentarily at the crease, head bowed, after being dismissed, but says that was more down to the soft nature of his demise.
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“It was more frustration with how I was out in the second innings. I wasn’t really focused on a century,” he reasoned.
“My aim was us to get over the line. I knew how difficult it was coming in and starting – and then I was proved wrong when Sam (Atkinson) came in and started blazing it about!
“It was a bit of a soft dismissal, that was what frustrated me the most.
“I wouldn’t say the shift down to number five altered my game. It was about what the scoreboard needed.
“Andy (Carr) and James (Kettleborough) said that’s what the scoreboard is asking up to do and it’s about going at that rate.
“Just staying in wasn’t going to win us the game. If we were going to win the game we had to be positive.
“In the session before tea, me and Reeve spoke and said that we needed to break the back of the target before the interval.
“We wanted to get it down to less than 100 as soon as we could.”
‘Time to cash in’
Moulton’s second-innings 77 followed 52 in his first knock at Riverway on day two.
They were his third and fourth half-centuries in his seventh Championship appearance for Staffs.
“Me, Carri (head coach Andy Carr) and Ketts (captain James Kettleborough) know my role is more suited to longer format games than short,” explained Moulton.
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“I’ve played in red-ball before and I know the team dynamics. I wouldn’t say you are ever settled in the side because one-one is.
“The competition for places is there and you come in and out because of form. That’s the type of game it is.
“I’m riding my luck when I can at the moment! I know full well there will be good days and bad ones. It’s about cashing in when you can.
“I had a good game and it was nice to contribute towards a special win.”
Main image: Tom Moulton hit half-centuries in both innings as Staffordshire beat Suffolk at Stafford. Picture: Alfie Shenton
