Staffordshire CCC on cup march again as qualification sealed
Staffordshire CCC took a step towards a third successive appearance in the finals of NCCA Twenty20 Cup by qualifying from group one.
Staffs required just a point from their final double header against Cumbria at Wolverhampton to secure qualifying - and did so without bowling a ball due to inclement weather.
The first clash was rained off at 11am and the abandonment handed hosts Staffordshire, champions in 2023 and finalists last year, the point they required.
There was still time - and improved conditions - for match two and the hosts delivered a 47-run victory which, coupled with Northumberland's double against Cheshire, saw Staffs top the group and secure home advantage for the 'super 12s' stage of the competition in August.
Staffs were put in to bat by their visitors, who had also already secured progression, and Wolverhampton's Reeve Evitts (pictured, 76*) and captain James Kettleborough (61*) made up for lost time in the 20 over clash with a dominant display of batting.
They teamed for a fourth-wicket stand of 129 as Staffs raced to 181-3 from 20 overs.
Cumbria's reply started sluggishly with spinner Nils Priestley claiming two early wickets to leave the visitors flailing at 42-2 from three overs.
The north west side settled later on with Ben Davidson's unbeaten 36 but the damage had been done as Cumbria fell 47 runs short at the end of their innings. Matt Morris and Tom Brett also claimed two wickets for Staffs.
