Carr: Staffordshire had chances to sample double Trophy success

STAFFORDSHIRE head coach Andy Carr admitted there was a sense that an opportunity had been missed in their Bank Holiday NCCA Knockout Trophy double header.

- Chris Travers

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

But their hopes of making it back-to-back successes were dashed on Monday when Suffolk prevailed in their meeting at Bignall End.

Suffolk posted a formidable 312-6 from their 50 overs, but Staffordshire were not daunted by the high chase.

Matthew Morris (55), Nils Priestley (50), James Kettleborough (43) and Michael Hill (26) all made starts, but Staffs lost wickets at key times and were eventually bowled out for 245.

"It was slightly frustrating on Monday. We always felt it was going to be a fast-scoring ground," said Carr.

"We lost the toss, but would have bowled first because we thought it was going to be a difficult ground to defend.

"We probably let it slip a bit in the bowling department in the last eight overs or so and it would have been nice to have dragged it back to a score of 280.