Staffordshire turned in another outstanding performance to cruise into the quarter final stages of the Minor Counties Knock-Out Cup. They wracked up a third successive group stage victory, with Norfolk the latest team to feel the might of Staffordshire's run of good form as they succumbed by the convincing margin of six wickets.

After an impressive display in the field, which saw the visitors dismissed for 165 in the final over, 18 year old Jack Manuel once again demonstrated his awesome batting potential to help steer Staffordshire home with 12.4 overs to spare.

Captain Paul Goodwin was delighted with his team's performance, although acknowledging, "The toss was vital. We certainly had the better of the conditions. However, we backed up winning the toss by using the conditions very, very well. The seamers bowled it in good areas and were backed up well by the fielders. Our two spinners held it together well in the middle of the innings and then we polished off their innings in good style at the end."

Chasing a victory target of 166, Staffordshire were never in danger of falling short led by Tamworth and Worcestershire player Jack Manuel of whom Goodwin stated, "Jack was fantastic. For someone so young, he is a different class."

Manuel went on to make 85 from just 92 balls, striking ten boundaries and one six, before falling to a catch at the wicket with 33 further runs required for victory. Manuel conceded, "It wasn’t easy out there and I had to work hard for the runs. It was a good challenge."

Manuel lost opening partner Peter Wilshaw for 18 with the total on 30. His Worcestershire colleague Dave Wheeldon, playing on his former home Leek ground, was unable to reproduce his form of the previous week against Hertfordshire and was out lbw for 9, with the second wicket falling on 69.

Runs continued to come steadily as Richard Harvey joined Manuel and the two left handers shared a partnership of 64 for the third wicket before Manuel fell 15 runs short of a first century for the County.Richard Harvey went for 22, caught at backward point allowing Nick James to finish the match in style with a six to end 22 not out.

Invited to bat first Norfolk were soon in trouble as the first three wickets fell for just 28 runs as the opening attack of Will Purser and Craig Barker made light of the absence of the unavailable Greg Willott, to take full advantage of the conditions. A fourth wicket partnership of 95 between Stephen Gray and James Spelman steadied the Norfolk innings, but from the fall of the fourth wicket on 123 the innings quickly crumbled to 165 all out.

Gray was the fourth player dismissed for 45, one of five catches for wicket keeper Paul Goodwin, with Spelman the sixth player dismissed after hitting five boundaries in his 53 from exactly 100 balls.

The excellent fielding display from the Staffordshire players was highlighted by Nick James outstanding running catch on the boundary to dismiss Chris Barrett. This was surpassed by the effort of Ben McGuire, who rose superbly to parry a fierce shot from Chris Brown before showing good reactions to snap up the dropping ball before it hit the ground. The wickets were shared around with Craig Barker taking three with two each for Will Purser, Mo Sheikh and left arm spinner Gareth Morris making his first appearance of the season.

After winning their first two matches by dominating with the bat first, Captain Goodwin was delighted to see his side win by bowling first concluding, "It is looking good. We need to keep the momentum going next week against Northumberland (at Morpeth) to clinch top spot in the group and get a home quarter final match."

ALLAN SMITH