FIGHT TO THE FINISH AS STAFFS LOSE AGAIN BUT RESTORE SOME PRIDE
Attention now switches to red ball three dayers after back to back 50 over losses
STAFFS ventured south to Gerrards Cross to wrap up NCCA Group Four matters with a very slim chance of clinching one of the two qualification spots to move through to the quarter-finals.
More important, though, was restoring some pride after last week’s nine-wicket crushing by Dorset at West Bromwich Dartmouth went down as one of the most forgettable one-day performances in the county’s history.
A third defeat in four may have occurred, but there was no shortage of fight, commitment and determination - all mostly missing last Sunday - from the Staffordshire side.
They were invited to bat on a wicket which turned out to be sporting, especially in the first half of the match, with good carry, exaggerated bounce at times and excessive turn.
There were still some disappointing shots, although there were still some positives with the bat to take away.
And from a bowling and fielding perspective, Staffs kept plugging away.
Buckinghamshire looked to be cruising to victory as they reached 135-3, but a quickfire treble from Staffs - proving the much improved attitude in the ranks - suddenly reduced the hosts to 137-6.
Staffordshire had their tails up and kept probing away, but Bucks found a way to cross the line with 10 balls remaining.
It wasn’t enough for the home side to progress, though, as Dorset and Wales filled the top-two places to extend their interest in white-ball matters moving forward.
Staffs, who were forced into a late team change as Rory Haydon replaced Toby Bulcock, were invited to bat by their opponents and suffered an early blow when skipper Alex Mellor chipped to mid-off to depart for a duck.
That was the first of three wickets for Cameron Parsons, with the seamer producing fine figures of 3-19 from his 10-overs.
He also accounted for Tom Moulton (22), aided by a fine catch at backward point by Alexei Kervezee, while Jack Redman (14) was also a victim to leave Staffs 51-3.
Riki Wessels and Michael Hill joined forces and advanced the score to 73 before Tom Hampton look the former’s wicket as he skied the ball to mid-on.
Hill, who was looking in good touch on a tricky wicket for batting, was joined by Peter Wilshaw and the duo put on a crucial partnership of 59 to raise hopes that Staffs could find their way to a competitive total.
Wilshaw perished to spinner Connor Haddow (3-27) and was soon followed back by Haydon.
Critically, Haddow then ended Hill’s battling - and sometimes fluent - innings - when he had made 43, to scupper Staffordshire’s chances of edging beyond the 200-mark.
Sam Atkinson (11no) and James Cox (10) chipped in with some crucial late runs, but Staffs were bowled out in the closing stages.
Buckinghamshire needed to knock off the runs in quick time to give themselves a chance of progressing on run rate.
And their intentions were clear from the off as Elliot Callis looked to give them a flying start.
Along with Kervezee he put on 37 for the first wicket before Staffs struck twice in three balls.
Kervezee planted a Haydon delivery to Paul Byrne at mid-off, who was then in the right place to safely pouch Callis (27) off seamer Cox.
Conrad Louth and Chris Marrow steadied the ship and progressed the score past the 100mark as Staffordshire fought hard to find another breakthrough.
It eventually came when Byrne, above, gaining some mind-boggling turn, breached Louth’s defences to see the former Lincolnshire man head back for 21.
Marrow was looking increasingly comfortable, though, and used the sweep shot on a regular basis to keep Bucks ahead of the game. He reached a fine half-century, but his exit, for 53, sparked a mini wobble in the home side’s ranks. Marrow, having hit seven fours and one six, looked to launch spinner Redman (2-29) over midwicket, but found the safe hands of Sam Atkinson in the deep.
Ed Bragg nicked a Dan Richardson delivery to Wessels at first slip, before Jack Rodnight fell in the same manner as Marrow to leave Bucks with work to do.
Ross Richardson kept a cool head, however, and in conjunction with the experienced Michael Payne, nudged the hosts up to their target.
Staffordshire didn’t throw in the towel, though, and Byrne (2-23) bowled Payne in the dying embers of the contest. But Richardson (35no) and Cameron Parsons (18no) picked their moments to see their side across the line.
A 50-over white-ball programme, which started full of optimism, didn’t pan out as Staffs would have hoped, although that sense of what might have been now has to be parked.
Staffordshire turn their attention to the red-ball programme next Sunday when they hit the road to Dunstable to take on Bedfordshire in their opening Division One East clash.
It’s going to be a tough time for Staffs in the three-dayers, but they can take some crumbs of comfort from their Gerrards Cross loss.
They showed a competitive streak and fought to the finish. Those qualities will be needed in abundance if they’re going to make an impact in the Championship arena.