Staffs confident after Shropshire friendly win
Staffordshire chief Kevin O'Connell claims they are heading into the Minor Counties season with plenty of confidence after a friendly win over Shropshire.
Well in command on 117-1 chasing down Shropshire's 185-9, Staffordshire had to settle for a Duckworth-Lewis win as heavy rain brought a premature end at Walsall.
But for team manager O'Connell, the positives were already there to see, saying: "We fielded very well and kept them down to a manageable total.
"Alex Mellor and Kadeer Ali then really took it apart and we were well on top when the game was called off.
"Above all else it was a good work out and a nice build-up for when the season finally gets underway."
Opener Ryan Lockley's knock of 38 from 61 balls was the highlight of a Shropshire's innings which struggled for momentum, after Staffordshire had won the toss and asked them to bat.
He was the second man out, with the score on 66, after fellow opener Warwick Fynn had already been dismissed.
When Omar Ali became George Harding's third victim and the sixth man to depart with the score on just 92, the day was in danger of ending early.
But skipper James Ralph (24), Gurman Randhawa (33) and Jack Edwards (21) at least ensured they set what seemed a competitive total.
That was until Staffordshire skipper Kadeer and opening partner Mellor got to work, scoring at 10 an over until the latter was dismissed having just reached 50.
Ben McGuire was promoted up the order to number three as the weather closed in but it proved to no avail.
Staffs play a Unicorns Trophy match this coming weekend against Buckinghamshire.
