Staffordshire let fine start go to waste before launching recovery

STAFFORDSHIRE picked up another two points in their NCCA Twenty20 Cup mission from the double header against Shropshire - but it really should have been all four.

- Chris Travers

Staffs squandered a golden opportunity to win the day's opening Group One clash at Burslem as they went down by one run in pursuit of their rivals' 183-5.

A lengthy rain delay then meant the second contest was reduced to five overs per side and although Staffordshire prevailed by seven wickets, there was certainly a sense that they had let a good chance to make their mark on the group go begging.

Twin wins would have been the ideal way to back up their win and defeat in the curtain raiser at Northumberland a couple of weeks ago.

As it was, just two more points were added to the tally ahead of next Sunday's hop across the county border to play Cheshire at Nantwich.

Staffordshire were kicking themselves, though, that it wasn't the perfect day at Festival Heights as they seemed odds-on to overhaul Shropshire's tally in game one.

Openers Nils Priestley and Liam Banks were in complete control of proceedings as they put on 92 in just 7.4 overs to break the back of the target.

The pair were in sublime form as they sent the Shropshire attack flying to all parts - but Priestley's dismissal turned the tide and offered Shropshire a route back into matters.

Priestley had hit four fours and four sixes in his 25-ball 49 before he chanced his arm once too often and was bowled by George McCormack.