Staffordshire give themselves a chance of netting Checkley win

STAFFORDSHIRE manoeuvred themselves into a position to push for victory heading into the final day of their NCCA Championship game against Lincolnshire.

- Chris Travers

An enthralling second day at Checkley ended with Staffordshire on 83-0 as they pursued a victory target of 292 at the Four Trees venue.

The fact that Staffs have managed to stay in the hunt for an opening-round success was testament to their battling performance on the second day.

They kicked off proceedings on the back foot as they resumed on 159-8 in reply to Lincolnshire’s 246 all out.

Crucially, though, stand-in captain Michael Hill was in residence and he continued his love affair with Checkley by advancing his overnight score of 39 to an unbeaten 93.

Tom Brett and Jacob Garlick kept Hill company as Staffs managed to find their way to 218 all out to limit the first-innings deficit.

Hill plundered nine fours and five sixes in his latest vital knock and, in the process, went through 4,000 career runs in NCCA Championship cricket.

It was yet another indication about how integral Hill has been to the batting unit over the years - and without his input, it really would have been an uphill task.

Staffordshire then performed heroically with the ball to dismiss Lincs for 263 second time around on a pitch which began to flatten out.