Disappointment for Staffordshire as Suffolk hold aces in Trophy tie

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- Chris Travers

STAFFORDSHIRE’S hopes of enjoying a bumper Bank Holiday haul in the NCCA Knockout Trophy were thwarted by rivals Suffolk.

Staffs had opened up their Group Two campaign with a comfortable victory over Herefordshire on Sunday.

However, they couldn't replicate that performance at Bignall End yesterday as they slipped to a 67-run defeat.

Staffordshire always faced a tough task to make it back-to-back victories once Suffolk posted 312-6 from their 50 overs.

The home side made a decent-enough fist of chasing down that total with Matthew Morris (55), Nils Priestley (50) and James Kettleborough (43) all impressing.

But just as partnerships were gathering pace, wickets were lost to stunt Staffordshire’s momentum and the game gradually slipped away from them.

‘The writing was on the wall long before Jacob Garlick was run out to end the hosts’ innings with the score on 245.

It was still a fine occasion at Boon Hill as the club welcomed Staffordshire’s first team to the ground for the first time 35 years.

A big crowd, which included Bignall End old boy and ex-England wicketkeeper Bob Taylor, had to brave the cold weather, but were warmed by some fine strokeplay on a fast-scoring ground.

Suffolk opted to bat after winning the toss and went on to produce the ideal 50-over innings as they build a solid platform before exploding in the closing stages.

Teenager Ollie Burle was tasked with playing the anchor role, which he did to perfection with 82, while Darren Ironside (39), Alex Oxley (35) and Jack Beaumont (31) batted around him.

And that set the stage for Josh Cantrell to blaze a 27-ball 54 not out in the dying embers to power the East Anglians beyond the 300-mark.