Lincolnshire ease past Staffordshire

Richard Harvey (left) could not prevent his side slipping to defeat in Lincolnshire

Hosts Lincolnshire comprehensively beat fellow in-form side Staffordshire by 186 runs in the Minor Counties championship. Both had qualified as group leaders for the quarter-finals of the Knockout Trophy competition.

From the minute Staffordshire captain Richard Harvey called incorrectly as the coin went into the air, there was only one winner. Batting first, Lincolnshire posted 345 for seven before skittling the visitors for 109.

Rather than enforce the follow-on, home captain Robert Cook allowed his side to set a target of 451 of which Staffordshire fell well-short as the hosts picked up a maximum 24 points.

Lincolnshire were able to post a commanding first-innings total in their permitted 90 overs as the Staffordshire attack struggled to make inroads into the powerful home top-order.

Although Craig Barker removed opener Peter Morgan for 16 with the score on 37, this was to be their last success for a considerable period as Martyn Dobson and Matt Dowman compiled a second-wicket partnership of 128.

Barker claimed the second of his three wickets in the innings to dismiss Dobson for 62 and Mo Sheikh struck shortly after to remove Dowman for 84 to leave the home side on 171 for three. Runs continued to flow with Vikram Atri in good form. Brothers Paul (29) and Robert Cook (33) provided good support for Atri who was denied what looked a certain century when he was run-out following a misunderstanding for 88.

Left with the tricky remaining 17 overs to face on the opening day, after spending the day in the sun in the field, Staffordshire's top-order was blown away as Stuart Airey steamed in down the slope and generated plenty of pace to remove Brian Sims and George Cairns in the same over and followed that up with the wicket of Sam Seadon, to leave Staffordshire deep in trouble at 19 for three.

Worse was to follow with the controversial dismissal of Staffordshire captain Richard Harvey off the final ball of the day, to leave the visitors on 59 for four.

The collapse continued on the second day as Staffordshire were bundled out in just 75 minutes with only opener Peter Wilshaw with 42 and Craig Barker, unbeaten on 13, offering any resistance. Airey completed a five wicket haul and Andy Carter mopped up the tail to finish with 3-45.

Home openers Martyn Dobson and Peter Morgan increased Lincolnshire's first-innings advantage of 236 by a further 79, before Will Purser dismissed Morgan for 39. Purser picked up two more quick wickets but, from 89 for three, Lincolnshire steadily increased their lead.

Atri with 40 and Paul Cook, whose 46 included four sixes, ensured a commanding lead of 450 before the innings was called to a halt to leave Staffs with 26 overs to overcome before the end of the second day. Purser's three wickets on his championship debut for the county cost 58 whilst Gareth Morris gamely overcame a strained neck, to finish with 4-54 with his left-arm spin.

Needing a solid start in their improbable run-chase, Staffordshire lost openers Sims (15) and Peter Wilshaw for 12 before reaching the close at 83 for two. Resuming, still requiring a further 368, the overnight pair of Cairns and Seadon were quickly back in the pavilion and when skipper Harvey went for eight, Staffordshire were in serious trouble at 113 for five.

A sixth-wicket partnership of 67 between Mo Sheikh and Craig Barker held up the home attack until, from the last ball before lunch, Sheikh became the third Stafforshire player in the innings to chase a ball outside his off stump and departed for 54.

Barker quickly became the eighth to go after the lunch interval and it was left to partnerships of 39 and 21 for the last two pairings to hold up the home side's victory celebrations until mid-afternoon.

The ninth wicket summed up Staffordshire's performance in general as Gareth Morris was run-out for 18 in farcical fashion. Last man Will Purser lost his middle stump to former Walsall seamer Elliott Wilson to bring the proceedings to an abject end, with Greg Willott left unbeaten on 23 as the innings closed on 264.

Lincolnshire finished with a commanding 186-run success, and the maximum 24 points, whilst Staffordshire's reward was a measly three points for their first innings bowling efforts.

Staffordshire have little time to lick their wounds and they need to bounce back quickly as, on Sunday, they entertain Oxfordshire at Leek in the quarter-final of the Knockout Trophy.