Staffordshire ready for one final push in bid to retain their crown

STAFFORDSHIRE will need a huge final-day effort in their quest to keep their hands on the NCCA Championship Division One East title.

- Chris Travers

Staffs take to the field for the last chapter of the three-dayer against Cambridgeshire at Peterborough with a 20-run lead after closing day two on 68-1.

There are plenty of permutations to throw into the mix - Staffordshire could be bowled out or skipper James Kettleborough may have to chance his arm by setting up arun chase while also giving his bowlers enough time to take 10 Cambridgeshire wickets.

And then there's the progress of the other encounter between Buckinghamshire and Lincs, which has been heavily affected by the rain.

Bucks are 90-2 in their first innings in reply to Lincolnshire’s 308 all out.

Those two sides are likely to head down the route of an agreed finish with Bucks looking to seal top spot and Lincolnshire fighting relegation.

So it promises to be a day of tension at Peterborough, while also keeping a firm interest on developments at High Wycombe.

The weather, of course, could also play a part in where the divisional crown ends up for the 2025 season.

But if the final day is anything like the second, then it promises to be an enthralling conclusion to Staffs’ three-day campaign.

At one stage it appeared as though they might establish a decent first-innings lead after reducing Cambs to 160-6 at lunch in reply to the visitors’ 287-8.

Debutant spinner Jack Batchelor took three wickets in the morning session, with slow left-armer Tom Brett scooping two after Liam Hurt had set the ball rolling.

However, a seventh-wicket stand of 165 between Aum Patel and Ben Saunders turned the tables in the afternoon and left Staffordshire facing a deficit.

Patel made 73 and Saunders top-scored with 90, before Sam Atkinson provided a triple blast to wrap up Cambs’ innings for 335.