‘Heartbreaking’ loss can’t shake belief of Staffordshire stars

MATT Morris insists one disappointing result won’t knock Staffordshire out of their stride.

- Chris Travers

Staffs suffered an agonising one-wicket defeat in their NCCA NV Play Trophy quarter-final by Cumbria at Carlisle last Sunday.

Staffordshire had been bowled out for 138 on a testing surface, but rallied superbly as Sam Keeling-Wright’s 5-26 kept them in the contest.

But ultimately, they fell just short of booking themselves a home semi-final against Cheshire.

“Yes, it was heartbreaking,” conceded Morris. “It’s really gutting to go all that way and come back with the result that we did.

“We had every belief that we could defend 138, which was a pretty decent score given how the wicket played. It was just that sixth-wicket stand (83 between Michael Slack and Max Winskill) which proved to be the difference.

“Fair play to Cumbria, the two in the middle order did extremely well to do what they did. But we can’t forget it’s just one game. I wouldn’t say it was a missed opportunity.

“We’ve been up against it at various points of the competition and always managed to come out on the right side.

“On another day the result goes in our favour. But we gave it everything and that’s down to the mindset instilled by Milly (Chris Milward, head coach), Wilsh (Pete Wilshaw, assistant head coach) and Ketts (captain, James Kettleborough).

“Having that self belief meant we went out knowing we could defend that total.”

Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be for Staffordshire, but they could still reflect on progress being made in the 50-over competition.

Staffs had failed to qualify from the group stages in the previous three seasons, so to reach the last eight was a step in the right direction.