Staffordshire stormed into the quarter final stages of the MCCA Knock-Out Cup with a fourth consecutive victory to maintain their 100% record in the competition.

The win over Northumberland in their final group matc, ensured a home tie in the quarter final, to be played at Leek on Sunday June 14th.

On a wicket which was never easy to bat on, Staffordshire battled to reach 144 after electing to bat first. This total proved to be far too many for the home side as the Staffordshire pace quartet of Will Purser, Greg Willott, Mo Sheikh and Craig Barker ripped through the home batting line up to dismiss them for just 70 runs in 28.4 overs.

Captain Paul Goodwin declared the performance "Absolutely tremendous. The wicket was certainly helpful to the bowlers all day. We thought we were maybe 20 runs short at the halfway stage. The way we demolished them just proved that our bowlers were a different class to theirs. Over the four games everyone has come in and done a fantastic job."

In contrast to the previous successes, which has seen Staffordshire get off to a flying start before posting a daunting total, this victory saw the batsmen have to graft for their runs and Goodwin acknowledged, "In some respects it was a good test of character. We responded well in the conditions. We bat all the way down and that is a big bonus. There will be situations when the late order batsmen are asked to perform and today they responded. It is always important to get those extra runs at the end of the innings as it changes the momentum of the game."

Looking at the performances throughout the qualifying stages Goodwin concluded, "We are showing great strength in depth at the moment. The batsmen are scoring runs and the bowlers are taking wickets and not giving the opposition any free runs. Everyone has contributed and there doesn’t look to be a weak link."

Staffordshire were rocked by the loss of Peter Wilshaw for one in the second over, caught at mid off, and suffered a further severe blow when Jack Manuel’s excellent form, which had seen him score 195 runs in his previous three innings for the county deserted him and he failed to add to his tally.

From five for two, Richard Harvey and Dave Wheeldon scored steadily to take the total to 44 before Wheeldon was undone by a delivery from Craig Smith which took off to find the edge of the bat.

With the departure of Harvey and Nick James in the same over and the total on 50 for five, the chips were really down for Staffordshire as their unbeaten record came under serious threat. Mo Sheikh and youngster Ben McGuire shared a partnership of 33 before Sheikh's wickets were knocked over by David Rutherford.

17 year old McGuire continued to play positively, hitting four boundaries in his 28 made from 32 balls, before falling to a good diving catch in the covers. Captain Paul Goodwin found willing allies in Greg Willott and Craig Barker before the skipper was unfortunate to become the ninth wicket to fall as the ball dropped on to the stumps off his glove. Goodwin's 58 ball stay produced 29 priceless runs out of the overall total of 144.

Opener Allan Worthy declared his intent with an early six off Greg Willott but he lost his partner Daniel Shurben to a smart piece of fielding from Nick James, whose direct hit left the opener stranded with the score on 15.

Greg Willott bowled new batsman Ian Pattison first ball and Will Purser found the edge of Gary Scott's bat for Paul Goodwin to take the chance to reduce the home side to 35 for three.

Willott, returning to the side in place of Gareth Morris after missing the victory over Norfolk, bowled Adam Cragg to claim the fourth wicket on 43. Without addition to the total Will Purser claimed the vital wicket of the dangerous Worthy, superbly caught by the diving Goodwin behind the stumps. Worthy's 30 included four boundaries and one six and his departure virtually ended the home team's hopes.

Marc Symington and Dave Rutherford briefly held up Staffordshire’s victory push after Willott had demolished Rich Wilkinson's stumps. However, Craig Barker and Mo Sheikh took over from Willott and Purser to clean up the tail with both bowlers claiming two wickets each. Sheikh finished off the innings as Craig Smith gave Goodwin a fourth catch of the innings to ensure a comprehensive 74 run winning margin for Staffordshire. County Coach Kim Barnett enthused, "It has been a wonderful four weeks. There can't have been much better Minor Counties cricket than we have played four weeks on the trot."

ALLAN SMITH