Skipper's century sets Staffs on way to victory
A superb century from captain James Kettleborough helped Staffordshire make a winning start in the NCAA Knockout Trophy.
Kettleborough’s 105 from 115 balls set the county on their way to a 60-run win in their opening group game at West Bromwich Dartmouth on Sunday.
Staffs have entered the season eager to improve on their record in the 50-over competition, having failed to progress beyond the group stage since 2022.
Kettleborough ensured they made a strong start this time around with his classy ton. The skipper arrived at the crease with his team, who had been put into bat by the visitors, in some trouble at 19-2 with openers Callum Hawkins and Liam Banks both back in the pavilion.
But he steadied the ship, first through a partnership of 56 with Reece Evitts (30), before adding 83 with Michael Hill (39) for the fourth wicket.
The arrival of Matthew Morris to the crease then helped speed up the run rate. Morris hit nine boundaries, including one six, on his way to 49 from just 35 balls.
Kettleborough, having completed his century, was the sixth wicket to fall with the score on 251 but by then his team were well on the way to setting a competitive target. Herefordshire spinner Taylor Cornall finished with figures of 5-39 to keep the total to 275 but it proved well beyond the visitors.
From 118-3 in the reply, they collapsed to 147-9, seamer Sam Atkinson removing the dangerous Olly Cox and Matt Pardoe.
Spinner Tom Brett took 3-31, with the medium pace of Evitts also contributing two wickets. With the game seemingly over, James Rudge smashed 62 from 38 balls to more than halve the required total but it always appeared a futile effort and he was the last wicket to fall with his team 60 runs short.
