Staffs through to final

AUDLEY'S Craig Barker came through a pre-match fitness test to help Staffordshire into their first Minor Counties Knockout Trophy final since 1993.

Barker held off the effects of a back injury to grab four wickets as the county's bowlers came up trumps at sun-drenched Knypersley.

Staffordshire will now play Norfolk at Durham's Riverside ground in the showpiece finale.

Barker had earlier hit 33 in Staffordshire's 50-overs total of 237-9, then stepped forward once more to claim 4-46 as Bedfordshire were bowled out for 140 in reply.

At 110-3, the visitors were still well in the hunt, but the dismissal of Dan Bendon led to a major collapse as seven wickets fell for the addition of just 30 runs.

Mo Sheikh's six-over spell at a cost of just nine runs had helped to peg back the Bedfordshire run rate before Barker switched ends to run through the late order.

Last week's successful debutant, Liam Hughes, provided the ideal foil to Barker, picking up 3-24 from seven overs of off-spin.

Hughes came into the side in place of Gareth Morris, while Longton's Dave Edwards was also released to play for his club in the North Staffs and South Cheshire League Twenty20 competition after Barker's successful fitness test.

Put into bat, Staffs were rocked by the fall of three wickets, all with the total on 28.

Jack Manuel had shown an early glimpse of his prowess with two boundaries and one majestic six before falling to a return catch off the bowling of Will Sneath.

Peter Wilshaw then dragged a ball from left-arm seamer Mark Jackson on to his stumps and, in the same over, Richard Harvey departed without scoring, caught at slip.

Former Leek player Dave Wheeldon, who has been named in the 12 for Worcestershire's forthcoming county championship fixture, restored stability to Staffordshire's innings in partnership with Hughes.

The pair added 71 to take the total to 99, before Hughes mistimed his shot and was caught at mid-off for 26.

That was to set a familiar pattern for the rest of the innings as batsmen continued to make a start only to fall when looking well set.

Sheikh skied a catch when on 23, McGuire played on to leg spinner Andy Roberts for 13 and Paul Goodwin was bowled for 19.

Wheeldon was the seventh batsmen dismissed – caught and bowled by Roberts for an excellent 67 from 83 balls – an innings which was the cornerstone of the home side's final tally.

And Barker's late flurry, in partnership with Greg Willott, ensured Staffs were able to post a challenging total.

Captain Goodwin was delighted to have reached the final and was full of praise for his players.

"It would have been an injustice if we hadn't have reached the final after the way we have performed in the group games and quarter-final," he said. "And we carried that on today.

"The win was fully deserved. We were stronger in both batting and bowling.

"I thought we got into a position to go past 250, but in the end 237 was plenty. I am really chuffed for Craig [Barker]. Playing him was a gamble that paid off for us.

"We can now go to Durham with confidence.

"Norfolk are a good side, but we are the more adaptable and if we play as we have done up to this stage, there is no reason why we can't win."