Captain Ketts ton steers Staffs to winning start in 50-over trophy campaign

STAFFORDSHIRE made a winning start to their NCCA Knockout Trophy double header with a 60-run victory over Herefordshire at West Bromwich Dartmouth.

- Chris Travers

Staffs have set their sights on improving on their 50-over fortunes after two disappointing summers which has seen them fail to progress beyond the group stages.

However, they made the ideal start to this summer's Group Two campaign, which they will now look to back up against Suffolk on Bank Holiday Monday.

It was captain James Kettleborough who led the way for Staffs with a magnificent 105 which formed the backbone of Staffordshire’s 275 all out at Sandwell Park.

Kettleborough’s second Knockout Trophy ton for the county - following his maiden one at Suffolk last season - paved the way for Staffordshire to stick a more than competitive total on the board after they had been asked to bat by their visitors.

Matthew Morris (49), Michael Hill (39) and Reeve Evitts (30) also looked in good nick - and would have been disappointed not to have gone on - to provide Kettleborough with the necessary support.

In reply, Herefordshire saw Ben Chapman-Lilley compile 42, but despite several other starts, no other top-order batsmen could make a sizeable contribution.

Staffs gradually chipped away at Herefordshire’s line-up and reduced them to 147-9 to stand on the verge of an emphatic success.

But James Rudge was intent on having some late afternoon fun as he plundered four fours and six sixes in a superb 38-ball 62.

And that dragged his side up to 215 before he was bowled by Rory Haydon to bring an end to his fun and Herefordshire’s slim hopes of a remarkable turnaround.