T20 Finals Day Review 2023

Photo credit: Alfie Shenton

Staffordshire showed their adaptability to win the National Counties T20 competition for the first time in an intriguing Finals Day at Tring Park.

Having made the highest-ever Finals Day total - 252 for two - to beat a much-fancied Berkshire in their semi-final, Staffordshire had to be resilient to edge out fellow first-time finalists Cornwall by four runs in a low-scoring but compelling finale.

Cornwall appeared favourites for three-quarters of the final after they dismissed Staffordshire for 119 then reached 89 for four in the 16th over of their chase.

But they were slowly choked by Staffordshire spinners Peter Wilshaw and Nils Priestley and lost four wickets for eight runs before coming up just short.

Priestley followed up his unbeaten 147 in the semi-final with a more restrained 57 in the final but it was his four wickets that proved decisive as Cornwall ground to a halt on a pitch that lost much of its early pace.

James Kettleborough, Staffordshire’s new captain, said when he joined from Bedfordshire during the winter that he had moved in an attempt to win silverware.

Collecting a trophy after barely a month in charge alongside new coach Andy Carr ticked that box but Kettleborough admitted that success had come a little earlier than expected.

“Realistically, we have probably exceeded expectations. We have been heading in the right direction as a group that has come together,” said the former Northamptonshire and Glamorgan batter.

“I am really proud of the group that we’ve won a trophy already. It’s a great achievement.

“Nils Priestley was just on another level in the first game. We knew that he was capable of something like that, but to do it on a stage like was just incredible. It was a pleasure to be part of it.

“In the final we did it the hard way. One thing we said at the break is that we hadn’t batted well enough, we didn’t use up the overs, but the game wasn’t over.

“We had runs on the board. It doesn’t matter how big or small the total is it’s on the board.

“It was just a case of whether they were going to get them or not. But we said that they were going to have to work extremely hard for them and we did exactly that.”

Remarkably the final was the first time that Staffordshire and Cornwall had met in any of the three National Counties competitions even though Staffordshire played their first competitive match in 1895 and Cornwall theirs two years later.

Having produced an outstanding bowling and fielding display in their semi-final victory over Hertfordshire, Cornwall repeated it against Staffordshire.

Will MacVicar pulled off the catch of the day when he nonchalantly plucked a one-handed effort at long on to account for Liam Hurt.

But a rare lapse proved costly as Chris Gibson was unable to hold on at deep square when Priestley had made eight.

Priestley went on to a 38-ball half century which helped Staffordshire to a total that proved to be competitive - if only just - and Cornwall lost their way after Joe Phillips was stumped advancing down the pitch to Wilshaw.

“It’s a tough one to take. Our lads have bowled and fielded superbly all the way through the competition. I think the highest score we’ve had to chase us about 130, so to keep a strong Staffordshire side to 119 I thought we were right in amongst it,” said Cornwall captain Paul Smith.

“As the day went on the pitch got a bit tacky and allowed spin to play its part. They had a lot of good spinners and bowled very tightly and we got behind the eight ball at a crucial stage in the game.

“Unfortunately we have come up just short. It happens but it’s good to see Cornwall as a County Cricket Club going in the right direction.

“I can honestly say that playing for Cornwall, being Cornish and playing with my closest mates in that dressing room makes me so proud.”

After the group stage of this year’s T20 were decimated by rain, Finals Day was played without interruption, mostly in glorious sunshine and in front of a large crowd.

First semi-final

Nils Priestley powered Staffordshire into their first T20 final with a brilliant unbeaten 147 from just 66 balls.

The former Derbyshire all-rounder plundered ten sixes and 12 fours in the second highest score in the competition’s history.

It laid the foundations for Staffordshire’s massive 252 for two which was also the second highest total in the competition.

Priestley, who had been in sparkling form in Staffordshire’s group matches, shared an opening partnership 124 in 51 balls with Zen Malik with his century coming from 41 balls.

There was no respite for Berkshire’s attack after Malik was caught behind off Josh Lincoln as Staffordshire Captain James Kettleborough (33 from 26 balls) added 99 for the second wicket with Priestley.

Berkshire captain Dan Lincoln led his side’s chase with 55 from 33 balls and with support from Johnny Connell (36).

But after they departed two overs apart following an opening stand of 85 and Staffordshire were able to squeeze the innings with Tom Brett, Malik and Winnington taking two wickets apiece.

Second semi-final

Cornwall converted their first visit to T20 Finals Day with a debut appearance in the final with an efficient all-round team performance that carried them to a five wickets win over Hertfordshire, the 2019 winners.

Cornwall supported accurate bowling with safe catching and athletic ground fielding which restricted Hertfordshire to an inadequate 117.

A fluent half-century from opener Chris Gibson then steered Cornwall home with 22 balls to spare.

Seamer Tommy Sturgess and slow left-armer Max Tryfonos shared six wickets between them for Cornwall with only opener James Latham (22) and former Essex all-rounder Tanveer Sikandar (28) briefly freeing themselves from the shackles imposed by the bowlers.

Cornwall lost Christian Purchase to the fourth ball of their innings but Gibson and Will McVicar (25) added 67 for the second wicket and Gibson remained to complete a successful chase.

National Counties T20 Finals Day

Tring Park

Semi-Finals

Staffordshire252-2 (Nils Priestley 147 not out, Zen Malik 40), Berkshire184-9 (Dan Lincoln 55). Staffordshire won by 68 runs.

Hertfordshire 117 (Max Tryfonos 3-12, Tommy Sturgess 3-18), Cornwall 120-5 (Chris Gibson 66 not out). Cornwall won by five wickets.

Final

Staffordshire119 (Nils Priestley 57, Tommy Sturgess 3-36), Cornwall115-9 (Nils Priestley 4-27). Staffordshire won by four runs.