|
| > Staffordshire CCC v Bedfordshire CCC Match Report |
Staffordshire overpowered Bedfordshire to reach their first Minor Counties Knock-Out Trophy final since 1993. Before a large and enthusiastic crowd at a sun drenched Knypersley ground, Staffordshire’s bowlers performed admirably to dismiss the visitors for 140 in reply to Staffordshire’s 237 for 9 from their permitted 50 overs.
Star of the show was Audley's Craig Barker, who came through a pre-match fitness test on his back injury which kept him out of the championship game at Norfolk, to claim figures of four for 36 from his ten overs to add to his late order 33 which helped to boost the Staffs total.
At 110 for three Bedfordshire were still well in the hunt, but the dismissal of Dan Bendon on that score, led to a major collapse as seven wickets fell for the addition of just 30 runs. Mo Sheikh’s six over spell at a cost of just nine runs, had helped to peg back the visitors run rate before Barker switched ends to run through the Bedfordshire late order. Last week’s successful debutant Liam Hughes provided the ideal foil to Barker picking up three for 24 from his seven overs of off spin.
Hughes came into the side in place of Gareth Morris who was omitted as he would not have been available to play on the reserve day should the weather have intervened, while Longton’s Dave Edwards was also released to play for his club in the Twenty/20 competition after Barker’s successful fitness test.
Put into bat Staffs were rocked with the fall of three wickets all with the total on 28. Jack Manuel had shown an early glimpse of his batting prowess with two boundaries and one majestic six before falling to a return catch off the bowling of Will Sneath.
Peter Wilshaw then dragged a ball from left arm seamer Mark Jackson on to his stumps and in the same over Richard Harvey departed without scoring, caught at slip.
Former Leek player Dave Wheeldon and now with Wolverhampton, who has been named in the twelve for Worcestershire’s forthcoming county championship fixture, restored stability to Staffordshire’s innings in partnership with Liam Hughes. The pair added 71, to take the total to 99, before Hughes mistimed his shot and was caught at mid off for 26.
This was to set a familiar pattern for the rest of the Staffordshire innings as batsman continued to make a start only to fall when looking poised to go on and make a large contribution. Sheikh skied a catch when on 23, McGuire played on to leg spinner Andy Roberts for 13 and Paul Goodwin was bowled for 19.
Dave Wheeldon was the seventh batsmen dismissed caught and bowled by Roberts for and excellent 67, coming from 83 balls and containing eight boundaries; an innings which was the cornerstone of the home side’s final tally.
Craig Barker’s late flurry in partnership with Greg Willott ensured Staffs were able to post a challenging total.
Captain Paul Goodwin was delighted to have reached the final and praised his players saying, “It would have been an injustice if we hadn’t have reached the final after the way we have performed in the group games and quarter final, and we carried that on today.. The win was fully deserved. We were stronger in both batting and bowling.”
Looking back at the game Goodwin admitted, “I personally thought we got into a position to go past 250, but in the end 237 was plenty. I am really chuffed for Craig (Barker). It was a gamble that paid off for us. To win on my own ground is extra special. We can now go to Durham with confidence. Norfolk are a good side but I feel we are the more adaptable side and if we play as we have done up to this stage in the competition there is no reason why we can’t win.”
|
|
|
| > SCCC NEWS |
 |
 |
|
|
