Double trouble at Burslem despite Perry ton

Photo: Skipper Harry Dearden and century-maker, Sam Perry

Game 1: Cheshire 143-9 (20 overs), Staffordshire 147-4 (18.4 overs) Staffordshire won by 6 wickets

Scorecard & video highlights  YouTube stream 1 

Game 2: Staffordshire 190-3 (20 overs), Cheshire 173-9 (20 overs) Shropshire won by 8 wickets

Scorecard & video highlights.    YouTube Stream 2

Group 1 Table

Cheshire remain fourth in the NCCA T20 Group 1 table and face a battle to reach the Super 12s, with two crucial double headers still to come against Cumbria and Northumberland.

While Sunday's twin defeats at Staffordshire's Burslem CC left Harry Dearden's side with work to do, there were encouraging signs, particularly in the second game, which produced an exhilarating chase and a century from Sam Perry.

Set a daunting 191 to win after Staffordshire piled up 190-3, powered by Dan Lincoln's 75 and James Kettleborough's unbeaten 72, Cheshire looked out of contention for long periods before launching a challenging fightback.

Perry was at the heart of the recovery, striking a superb hundred and sharing a 77-run partnership for the third wicket with Freddie Vaughan-Hawkins, who contributed an excellent 43. With the required rate climbing, Cheshire refused to surrender, keeping the outcome in doubt until the closing stages.

With three overs remaining, the visitors were still firmly in the hunt, but Staffordshire's experienced attack held their nerve. Liam Hurt (4-29) and Jake Garlick (3-23) delivered the decisive blows as Cheshire eventually fell 17 runs short after a thrilling contest. The 58 runs Staffordshire plundered from the last three overs was decisive .

The earlier game had been a more frustrating affair. Cheshire never fully found their rhythm after being restricted to 143-9, with Perry top-scoring with 34 and Henry Murray adding 30. Hurt again impressed with the ball, claiming 3-24.

Staffordshire then eased to a six-wicket victory, Nils Priestley making 48 and Kettleborough finishing unbeaten on 45 as the hosts comfortably chased down their target.

Attention now turns to a huge fortnight for Cheshire. Cumbria visit Nantwich this weekend in another vital T20 double header before the two counties renew acquaintances seven days later in the NCCA KO Trophy semi-final at Keswick, with a place in the final at stake.

As is recent tradition, the sides competed for the Bailey Gill Plate in the second game. Established in 2017 and named after old Cheshire / Staffordshire foes David Bailey and Peter Gill, Staffordshire Chair Nick Archer presented the plate to captain James Kettleborough at the end of the day. 

Cheshire squad: Harry Dearden (capt - Woodbank), Sam Perry (Alderley Edge), Dan Newton (Lindow), Henry Murray (Toft), Freddie Vaughan-Hawkins (wk - Timperley), Matt Strong (Neston), Andy Jackson (Hyde), Xavier Selby (Woodbank), Alex Young (Didsbury), Will Valentine (Alderley Edge), Kevin Carroll (Brooklands), Isaac Brooks (Lindow). 12th man: Liam Clorely (Toft)