Express & Star

Staffordshire beat Norfolk to book place in Minor Counties Championship final

Staffordshire booked their place in the Minor Counties Championship final by clinching the Eastern Division title with a thrilling 96 runs win over Norfolk at Longton.

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Staffordshire needed to win to overtake Norfolk, for whom a draw would have been sufficient, and only four-and-a-half overs remained when slow left-armer Paul Byrne had Andy Hanby LBW.

Hanby faced 62 balls without scoring but occupation of the crease that was always more important than runs to Norfolk who showed no interest in chasing a target of 262.

When former Leicestershire wicketkeeper Tom New and Norfolk captain Ash Watson were together it appeared that Staffordshire would be frustrated.

But New fell carelessly for 45, caught behind fanning down leg side off debutant Manraj Johal, a Warwickshire Academy, which opened the door for Staffordshire.

Ryan Findlay, a first innings century-maker, was bowled by Rob Hemmings for an 18-ball duck and when Watson went LBW to Dan Richardson, the end was in sight.

Staffordshire will now meet Berkshire, who are seeking a record-equalling fourth consecutive title outright in the final at Banbury in a four-day match starting on September 15.

It will be Staffordshire’s first final since they won the Championship in 2014 since when they had finished third in the Eastern Division four years running.

“What a great game. Credit to Norfolk, I thought they were outstanding,” said Staffordshire captain Kadeer Ali.

“After day one we were on top but they came back strongly on day two and really put us under pressure.

“We had to fight really hard today. But credit to the boys especially Matt Morris in both innings and Manraj, who is just 17.

“We were struggling a bit with injuries and unavailability but he came in for his debut and bowled superbly.”

Morris followed up his first innings century with a second innings half century which set up a well-judged declaration from Ali who deployed his bowlers intelligently in an increasingly tense finale.

Staffordshire and Norfolk will be joined in next season’s Division One East by Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire and Suffolk.