Staffordshire suffer heartbreaking defeat in NCCA T20 semi-finals

Staffordshire suffered a heartbreaking six-wicket defeat in the NCCA T20 semi-final against Bedfordshire in Wormsley.

Nils Priestley opened with the bat for Staffordshire, but was quickly caught, after racking up nine runs from eight balls.

Reeve Evitts produced a respectable 24 from 16 balls and Joe Hawkins was the standout batter for the hosts after racking up a 36-ball 41.

Ollie Walker weighed in with 19 for Staffordshire, but the likes of DJ Lincoln, Jake Garlick and captain James Kettleborough were bowled out without registering a single run.

James Anson collected five wickets for Bedfordshire, who managed to bowl Staffordshire out for 131 during the final over.

Jamie Dunk was in unstoppable form for the visitors and produced an impressive 70 from just 51 balls to propel them into the driving seat.

Nabil Moughal contributed a further 57, as the pair almost single-handedly guided Bedfordshire over the finish line, after recovering from losing three wickets inside the first three overs.

Liam Hurt took three of the four wickets for Staffordshire, but they were unable to prevent Bedfordshire from reaching a victorious score of 136 in the penultimate over and scuppering Staffordshire’s hopes of making the final.