Staffs fall agonisingly short of play-off spot

Staffordshire were just one win away from securing their place in the NCCA Championship play-off.

Picking up from 66/1 on the final day against Cambridgeshire, James Kettleborough (88), Sam Atkinson (57), Peter Wilshaw (47 not out) and Michael Hill (46) took Staffs to 291-7 declared.

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That gave them a lead of 243, which Cambs tried to chase down while losing regular wickets along the way.

Tom Brett took 5-79 and Jack Batchelor 3-108 to reduce the hosts to 222-9, but Lee Thomason (33no) and Matty Rees (0no) saw out the final 12 balls to deny Staffs the final wicket that would have taken them to the top of the Eastern Division One table with victory.

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