Staffs humble champions

Staffordshire

Staffordshire trounced MCCA Knockout Cup holders Suffolk to clinch a home quarter-final tie in their bid to reach this year's final at Lord’s.

Staffs completed a comprehensive 150-run victory over the highly-regarded visitors in their final group game at Mildenhall.

Captain Richard Harvey was glowing in his praise for the side: "It was a fantastic performance, very professional and it was top drawer.

“After being put in on a damp wicket, we got off to a good start and then kept chipping away.

“One hundred and eighty would have been a good total, but everyone contributed around Mo's (Sheikh) solid knock.

“The bowling is awesome at the moment. Will (Purser) has been tremendous and when you think we have Mo Sheikh and Craig Barker coming on as first change the pressure builds.

“We also have the extra dimension that Greg Willott's left-arm over gives us."

Asked to bat on a wicket which had been used the previous day for a club fixture, Staffordshire openers Peter Wilshaw and Brian Sims got their team off to a positive start with Longton batsman Wilshaw the major aggressor.

Stone captain Sims was the first to depart, trapped lbw for 10 with the total on 48.

Wilshaw hit five boundaries in his 36 before falling to a catch in the covers off left-arm quick bowler Justin Bishop, the second wicket falling at 60.

George Cairns contributed a cameo 25 as all the Staffordshire batsmen continued to take the attack to the home side, despite the difficult conditions.

Sam Seadon was unfortunate to see the ball roll back on to his stumps before Harvey and Sheikh took the score past the three figure mark in the 33rd over.

Skipper Harvey fell to a well-judged catch on the long-off boundary before a 65-run partnership for the sixth wicket between Walsall's Sheikh and Knypersley skipper Paul Goodwin, ensured Staffordshire were able to post a challenging total.

Sheikh's 52 came from 41 balls and included four boundaries and two sixes, giving the required impetus to the innings at just the right time.

Goodwin went on to finish unbeaten on 29 whilst Greg Willott's 13 not out included a six as Staffordshire posted a score of 212 for six from their fifty overs.

Former Essex bowler Bishop was the pick of the home attack with 3-29 from his 10 overs.

The Suffolk reply was soon in tatters as former Lancashire and Worcestershire second XI seamer Purser claimed four of the first five wickets to fall, for just four runs, as the home side crashed to 19 for five.

Greg Willott was the other early wicket-taker and when Purser claimed his first five-wicket haul for his new county, Suffolk had limped along to 29 for six.

Bishop and Phil Edwards briefly held up the Staffordshire victory push before Craig Barker bowled Bishop for 21.

The end came swiftly as Barker picked up two further wickets with left-arm spinner Gareth Morris also joining the party by bowling Simon Rees.

The home innings lasted just 29.5 overs with Suffolk dismissed for a miserable 62 - a tame end to their defence of the cup they battled to win against Cheshire in last year's final at HQ.

Coach Kim Barnett said: "The performance was as good as against Norfolk in the opening match.

“We put the runs on the board on a difficult wicket and then bowled beautifully."

A smiling chairman Nick Archer summed up the day by saying, "We achieved what we set out to do. It was important to get a home match in the quarter-finals.

“I thought we played really well. It wasn't easy batting out there - as it proved when they went in - and then we were outstanding with the ball."

The quarter-final tie will be played at Leek Cricket Club, on either Sunday June 15 or Wednesday June 18, against Oxfordshire who were beaten semi-finalists last year.