Staffs maintain title ambition

Seamer Mo Sheikh bowled Staffs to victory over Bucks at Slough © Getty Images

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Staffordshire completed a comprehensive 127-run victory over Buckinghamshire at Slough to keep their Eastern Division title prospects alive.

Acting captain Paul Goodwin, standing in for the unavailable Richard Harvey, elected to bat first and his batsmen supported the decision by racking up 329 for seven from their permitted ninety overs.

Brian Sims fell eight runs short of a patient maiden century and Mo Sheikh made a quickfire 94 at exactly a run a ball.

Staffs then struck early to remove both Bucks openers with just 17 on the board but Fahim Qureshi's painstaking four-hour 69 helped the hosts post 226 in reply.

The visitors faltered with the bat second time round but Goodwin’s 70 helped them to 235 for eight declared. That set Bucks a target of 339 from a minimum of 82 overs after an hour on the final day.

Shiekh sent openers Keith Medlycott and Russell Lane back early on but Matthew Jones fought hard for a fifty. However, Jones’ departure at 146 for four sparked a mini collapse as a further three wickets went for just eight runs.

A 47-run eighth-wicket partnership held up Staffordshire's victory push before spinner Russ Ballard mopped up the tail to finish with match figures of 6-154 from 53.2 overs. Sheikh's aggressive display saw him end with 5-82.

Staffs are next in action against Bedfordshire at Knypersley CC starting on Sunday 3rd August.