Staffs take thrilling encounter

Staffordshire bounced back from the disappointment of missing out on a semi-final place in the Knockout Trophy, to record an impressive victory over Hertfordshire in their home fixture at Longton.

The victory came after three days of excellent cricket , with the fortunes swinging both ways, before Staffs came out on top by five wickets.

The game was remarkable for a player from both sides being dismissed on 99, with a third falling three runs short of a century.

For Hertfordshire, Aaron Laraman was the unlucky player as he fell to a catch by wicketkeeper Paul Goodwin when one short of three figures in helping Hertfordshire post a first innings score of 304 for nine in their permitted 90 overs.

An opening partnership of 53 between Steven Gale (38) and Gary Brown (26) got the visitors off to a positive start after skipper Andy Lewis had elected to bat first.

Mo Sheikh struck to remove both openers and with Craig Barker also claiming the wickets of Lewis and the dangerous David Ward cheaply, the visitors were in a spot of trouble at 87 for four.

Laraman found an ably ally in Nick Lamb in sharing a fifth-wicket partnership of 104 before Lamb (31) departed to left-arm spinner Gareth Morris.

Laraman was the seventh wicket to fall with the total on 250 and with Sheikh going on to finish with figures of 4-57 and Morris 3-41 the visitors first innings came to a conclusion at 304 for nine.

Two short breaks for the weather interrupted Staffordshire's response with both openers departing without scoring to leave the home side rocking at eight for two.

Staffs lost a third wicket in the opening over of the second day without addition to their overnight total of 43, before Sam Seadon and captain Richard Harvey began the recovery.

Seadon departed having completed his half-century before Harvey fell on 97 to an excellent catch on the boundary by Lamb.

Aaron Laraman fell one short of a century for Hertfordshire

Mo Sheikh and Paul Goodwin added a further 81 before, following the departure of Sheikh for 58, Goodwin and Craig Barker smashed a further 95 from the final 10 overs of the innings, to enable Staffs to reach a 52-run lead at 356 for six.

Goodwin's unbeaten 75 came from 94 balls and included five boundaries and three sixes whilst Barker hit two maximums in his undefeated 41.

Another useful opening stand for Hertfordshire was broken with them still six runs behind Staffordshire and the loss of a second wicket at 64 was a cause for concern.

From this point Laraman and Ward began to establish a solid partnership and they finished the day without further loss on 184 for three..

Staffordshire claimed three wickets in the first six overs of the final day including the big wickets of Ward for 65 and Laraman for 19, both falling to Sheikh.

The dismissal of Simon Greenall immediately after lunch brought an end to the visitors’ resistance at 291 all out, setting Staffordshire a victory target of 240 from a minimum of 55 overs.

Mo Sheikh again claimed a four wicket haul to finish with match figures of 8-126, with Gareth Morris picking up 6-114 in the match.

At 43 for two Staffordshire's run chase on the final afternoon began to look an imposing challenge before Seadon blasted the visitors’ attack to all parts with a dazzling 71 from just 61 deliveries to put Staffs in a match-winning position. I

Following Seadon's departure, Peter Wilshaw kept Staffs on track for their first championship win of the season only to be dismissed one short of a deserved century.

But Sheikh and Paul Goodwin ensured Staffs completed the victory with five wickets in hand and over an hour still to play.

After three days of high quality cricket, Staffordshire captain Richard Harvey commented: "I couldn't have asked for more.

“We had the worse of the toss which meant we had the worst of the conditions having to bat last on the third day but we have done the business.

“There have been lots of positives. Mo (Sheikh) and Gaz (Morris) have both bowled superbly. Pete Wilshaw and Sam Seadon have taken the game away from them on a wicket which offered something for the bowlers throughout."