Captain hails Priestley and the team ethic as Staffordshire closing in on qualification for Super 12s showdown

JAMES Kettleborough hailed Nils Priestley's contribution to Staffordshire's double success against Cheshire in the NCCA Twenty20 Cup - but insisted everyone was playing their part in the county's mission.

- Chris Travers

Staffordshire jumped to the top of Group One of the short format after winning both of their games at Nantwich last weekend.

Staffs prevailed by three wickets in the morning encounter and cruised to a seven-wicket success in the afternoon meeting.

And big-hitting left-hander Priestley was at the forefront of both of those successful run chase.

Priestley smashed 63 off just 22 balls in game one, before facing the same number of deliveries in making 52 in game two.

The Checkley all-rounder has form in the NCCA T20 competition, having hit 147 not out on finals day against Berkshire when Staffordshire won the competition in 2023.

And skipper Kettleborough says his free-flowing batting rubbed off on to his spin bowling which saw him grab a couple of victims in the second encounter.