James Kettleborough says he was ready to roll the dice to try to force victory over Bedfordshire in the opening NCCA Championship game of the season.
Staffordshire were left frustrated as the weather meant no play was possible on the final day of the Division One clash at Checkley.
The inclement conditions had also forced the opening day to be cut in half, but in the play possible, Staffordshire had managed to put themselves in a commanding position.
After being bowled out for 204, in which Tom Moulton made 50, Staffs’ attack reduced Bedfordshire to 25-6 before rolling them for 141.
Rory Haydon (6-22) and Liam Hurt (4-53) swept through the visitors’ line-up – and then half-centuries from Matt Morris and Zen Malik guided Staffs to 133-1 at the end of day two.
That left Staffordshire with a 196-run lead and skipper Kettleborough insists he would done whatever it took to push for the win if a small passage of play had been possible.
‘Easy decision’
“It was frustrating with the weather. We were confident that we could have forced the issue, we were certain of that,” said Kettleborough.
“We can’t control the weather, though, and the efforts to try to get more play in from everyone at Checkley was outstanding.
“Absolutely we would have declared on our overnight total if we had the chance to play.
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“That was the plan if the weather had allowed and I didn’t think it was a gamble at all after how the first innings played out.
“We were desperate to play and I think attitude can go a long way to impacting a result.
“Ideally, we might have batted for five overs, got a lead of 250 to give us a bit more comfort.
“But if we’d had 30 overs of cricket, I felt we could bowl them out again. I was prepared to make that move.”
‘Upbeat’
Kettleborough, though, says there were plenty of positives to take from the encounter.
Not least Leek seamer Haydon’s maiden five-wicket haul for Staffordshire. He produced one of the best performances from a county paceman in recent years.
“There’s plenty of things that we can take forward,” added Kettleborough. “We had a disappointing 50-over campaign. We wanted to park that and set our stall out for the three-dayers.
“Full credit to Rory. He deserves every bit of praise which comes his way. To take 6-22 was well deserved and put us in the driving seat. Rory will get the headlines, but the four-man seam attack (Haydon, Hurt, Jacob Garlick and Tom Moulton) all did their jobs.
“Zen and Matt then set us up really nicely in the second innings.
“We spoke about turning up on day two with real purpose. As a leader I felt we did that and were looking to win the game.
“We even thought with a good day we might be able to win it then, especially with the weather around on the third day.”
‘Late resistance’
Kettleborough says that once his side had seen Beds fall to 25-6, he did have half a thought about the follow on.
Staffordshire would have needed to dismiss their rivals for 54 or less, but Beds rallied to end those slim hopes.
“There was a bit of a chance at 25-6. But there is always going to be a partnership somewhere down the line,” said Kettleborough. “We got 204 first up, and I suppose we would have liked to have had 250 or 275 on the board to put them under even more pressure.
Day Two report: Rory Haydon has six appeal to put Staffs in control
“They have Matt Coles coming in at seven or eight and he’s a handy cricket, so we knew the follow on would be unlikely.
“But to put a first-innings score of 204 on the board and then get a lead of 60 was pretty impressive.
“It was a good wicket and there was a bit in for batsmen and bowlers.”
‘Two new faces’
Staffordshire gave debuts to batsmen Joe Hawkins, aged 17, and paceman Jacob Garlick, aged 19, in the drawn clash.
And Kettleborough was full of praise for the performances of the Moddershall & Oulton duo.
“Everyone did a job for us and no-one looked out of place,” explained Kettleborough.
“Joe and Jacob were on debut and did themselves proud.
“Jacob bowled at a good pace and Joe looked at home for someone who is so young.”
Staffordshire sit out this weekend’s round of Division One East matches. Bedfordshire host Lincolnshire and Buckinghamshire entertain Suffolk.
Staffs are back in action on Sunday, July 21 when they play Warwickshire at Knypersley in the NCCA Showcase Game.
Their next Championship assignment starts on Sunday, July 28. They head to Cleethorpes to play Lincolnshire, who dree with Bucks in round one.
Main image: Staffordshire captain James Kettleborough took plenty of positives from the draw with Bedfordshire. Picture: Alfie Shenton
