Batting fireworks from quick bowler put spring in county's step to set up victory chance

STAFFORDSHIRE put themselves ina position to potentially push for victory after an enthralling second day of their NCCA Championship game against Suffolk.

- Chris Travers

The East Anglians closed their second innings on 58-1 - leading by 11 runs - at Copdock to leave the game in the balance.

However, with the wicket showing some handy signs of life, Staff's will head into the final day feeling optimistic that they can build on their opening round victory over Lincolnshire at Checkley.

Suffolk will also be eyeing up the possibility of pushing for a win, which would boost their cause after failing to emerge victorious in either of their two matches to date.

Staffordshire had resumed matters on 67-0 as they responded to Suffolk’s 338-9 on day one.

‘And it was a day which saw some attritional cricket before Staffs’ Liam Hurt provided some late-innings fireworks to help Staffordshire to reach 385-9 at the end of their 90-over allocation.

James Kettleborough (70) and Michael Hill (69) had done plenty of the heavy lifting in the early stages of Staffordshire’s first innings.

Matt Morris (46), Jack Redman (37) and Callum Hawkins (39) were also in fine fettle - but it was Hurt who put Staffs in the ascendency with an astonishing innings.

The burly former Lancashire man bludgeoned 10 sixes and a couple of fours in a 40-ball 81 not out to power the visitors past their hosts’ total.

Hurt’s assault included taking 31 off the final over of the innings as he sent balls flying out of the ground and endangering traffic on the nearby A12.