Staffs beaten in knockout opener
STAFFORDSHIRE suffered a disappointing start to their NCCA Knockout Trophy campaign, losing a tight game away to Cumbria by two wickets yesterday.
It was their first competitive fixture since the Championship final in 2019, whereas Cumbria had chalked up an impressive success in their opening game of the season against Cheshire a fortnight ago.
Even so, self-inflicted wounds were a primary cause of Staffs’ defeat as poor shot selection or execution littered their innings after captain Alex Mellor, making his leadership debut, had won the toss and opted to bat.
Staffordshire were bowled out for 193 and it needed a handy 40 from Ben Cotton to nudge them up to a score which, despite being below par, was still competitive.
The pitch offered some useful assistance to the bowlers – although Staffs knew that they needed early wickets to put the pressure on Cumbria.
They very nearly made a dream start when the first ball of the run chase, bowled by Cotton, leapt at Sam Dutton, hit the splice and headed in the direction of Rob Hemmings in the cordon.
Hemmings threw himself at the ball and appeared to cling on before losing control as he hit the turf.
Dutton made the most of his life as he helped Michael Slack to see the home side to 45-0 off the first five overs.
Staffs chipped away gradually, but Slack held the innings together with 57.
It was then left to Paul Hindmarch, batting with a runner after suffering a hamstring injury while bowling, to pick up the baton.
His dismissal sparked a touch of panic in the Cumbria camp but they got over the line.
The day had started in promising fashion as Mellor and Zen Malik compiled 30 for the first wicket.
Their stand was ended when Mellor received a beauty from Slack and was bowled, before the same bowler forced a leading edge from Matthew Morris, who was pouched by Gary Pratt at mid-off for a duck.
Malik looked in good touch, striking six fours in his 35, but he tdanced down the wicket to spinner Matt Siddall and was stumped by Tom Benn.
That left Staffordshire 49-3 and there was a steady flow of wickets just as it appeared as though a partnership was developing.
Peter Wilshaw was bowled by Siddall for nine and Michael Hill was surprised by a delivery from Nico Watt which flicked his glove on the way through to keeper Benn.
Jack Redman played patiently for 21 and Hemmings’ dismissal left Staffordshire firmly on the back foot on 125-7.
Tim Maxfield and Cotton forged a meaningful stand, the former falling to a superb caught and bowled by Slack, who hared after a ball which had been skied into the outfield.
Cotton hit five fours and a six in his impressive innings but he was the last man out after Alex Coates has been dismissed for a useful 16.
Dutton’s first-ball life seemed to galvanise Cumbria and they soon had firm foundations in place to chase their target.
The openers advanced to 61 before Dutton fell for 23 when he was bowled by left-arm spinner Paul Byrne.
Nathan Waterston was bowled by Alex Coates in a fine spell of 1-29 from his 10 overs.
Pratt, who survived a confident caught behind appeal early on, chipped in with 22 before nicking Malik’s leg spin to Mellor.
Sempill chipped to Byrne at mid-wicket off Malik and when Slack, who hit seven fours in his 57, skewed Tim Maxfield to point, there was a glimmer of hope at 157-5.
And that glimmer became a little bit brighter when Hindmarch was pinned lbw by Redman’s spin for 35, then Maxfield accounted for Benn and Mellor’s sharp glovework saw Watt stumped off Redman as the drama unfolded late in the day.
At 177-8, Staffordshire would have sensed an opportunity but Cumbria managed to hold their nerve to seal victory in fading light.
Malik, Maxfield and Redman each picked up two wickets for Staffordshire, who fought valiantly to the end.