KETTLE STARS AS CHESHIRE WIN AGAIN
By Neil Goulding (Cheshire CCC Media Officer, mobile 07813 859986)

OPENING batsman Jonny Kettle starred with the willow as Cheshire maintained their unbeaten start to the new season with victory over Staffordshire in their second MCCA Knockout Trophy match.
Nantwich's Kettle top-scored with a fine 75 as the visitors clinched a second successive group win, this time with a welcome win at Knypersley Cricket Club which took them top of the table.
One more victory for Cheshire skipper Andy Hall and his side should guarantee their progress to the quarter-final stages.
"It was another solid team performance," reflected Hall. "There were some important contributions with the bat and then we kept taking wickets at good intervals which put Staffordshire under pressure.
"Jonny Kettle's innings held everything together and that allowed others to bat around him and get us over the 250 mark."
Having won the toss and elected bat, Cheshire were wobbling at 31-3, but Kettle and vice captain James Duffy shared in an important fourth-wicket partnership of 94 to steady the ship.
Duffy impressed with a run-a-ball 59, which included six fours and two sixes before he was bowled.
But Hall (24) and all-rounder Richard Logan (45) - from just 35 balls - both weighed in with important runs as Cheshire finished on 255, all out off the last ball of their allotted 50 overs.
Staffordshire were left needing a revised Duckworth-Lewis winning total of 251 from 48 overs as rain briefly disrupted their reply.
However, some excellent bowling from opening bowler Adam Syddall and spinner Danny Woods made sure the hosts fell 19 runs short as they finished on 232-9.
Left-armers Syddall (3-55) and Woods (3-28) led the way, while Logan chipped in with two wickets and Richard Wilkinson also claimed a scalp.
Greg Willott was the pick of the Staffordshire bowlers with a 4-46 return from 10 accurate overs, but Cheshire kept their composure to deservedly put one foot into the business end of this year's one-day competition.
Next up for Cheshire is a home clash with Northumberland at Marple Cricket Club on Sunday (15 May).
And Hall knows a third victory in a row would pretty much secure their place in the quarter-finals.
"It's going to be another tough game for us, but one which we're really looking forward too," added Hall.
"Three wins should take us through. We got to the quarter-finals last season and just came up short, so hopefully we can get there again this season and do a little bit better."

Scorecard:
Cheshire beat Staffordshire on D/L by 19 runs. Staffs led needing revised target of 251 from 48 overs.
Cheshire 255 all out (50 overs) J. Kettle 75, J. Duffy 59, G. Willott 4-46, A. Harris 3-48
Staffordshire 232-9 (48 overs) A. Stead 61, P. Goodwin 40*, D.Woods 3-28, A. Syddall 3-55

Latest Group One standings:

P won los Pen Pts
Cheshire CCC 2 2 0 0 4
Shropshire CCC 2 2 0 0 4
Cumberland CCC 1 0 1 0 0
Northumberland CCC 1 0 1 0 0
Staffordshire CCC 2 0 2 0 0

Cheshire's team v Staffordshire:
Andy Hall (captain, Marple)
Adam Worrall (wicketkeeper, Alderley Edge)
Jonny Kettle (Nantwich)
Lee Dixon (Oxton)
James Duffy (Hyde)
Warren Goodwin (Chester Boughton Hall)
Richard Logan (Chichester)
Adam Syddall (Urmston)
James Warrington (Nantwich)
Richard Wilkinson (Barnt Green)
Danny Woods (York)
Scorer: Jim Law

For any photos of the Cheshire team please call Neil Goulding on 07813 859986. These can happily be supplied free of charge.

Or alternatively contact Barry Mitchell www.sport-in-focus.com for official Cheshire photos.

Team photo (please credit Derrick Hastings)
Back row: Adam Syddall, Danny Woods, James Duffy (vice captain), Richard Logan, Warren Goodwin, Jimmy Warrington, Lee Dixon. Front Row: Ross Dixon (12th Man), Adam Worrall (wicketkeeper), Andy Hall (captain), Jonny Kettle, Richard Wilkinson

CHESHIRE MAKE CHANGE FOR STAFFORDSHIRE
By Neil Goulding (Cheshire CCC Media Officer, mobile 07813 859986)

CHESHIRE have made one change to their 12-man squad for Sunday's eagerly-anticipated MCCA Knockout Trophy away clash with Staffordshire.
Six-wicket winners at home to Cumberland in their opening 50-over match last Sunday, Cheshire have kept faith in the players which got their season off to a flying start.
But opening batsman Jonny Kettle has been selected for his first county match of the season, while Louis Bentley misses out this time around.
Talented all-rounder Danny Berry unluckily missed out last weekend as the hosts opted to play with one spinner, but the Hyde youngster could come into contention this weekend depending on the wicket at Knypersley Cricket Club (11am start).
And Cheshire captain Andy Hall knows his side face a tough test with their hosts hungry to bounce back from a three-wicket defeat to last season's Trophy winners Shropshire in their opening outing of 2011.
Shropshire chased down 229 for victory with 16 balls to spare.
"We've had a good start to the season, but this is going to be a tough game for us," predicted Hall.
"Staffordshire are a strong side, but as long as we perform to the level we're capable of we fancy our chances of beating them.
"We're all looking forward to the match, another win would really put us on the road to qualifying for the quarter-finals.
"I've said all along that we probably need to win three of four matches to make sure we qualify - and this match is another good challenge for us."
Hall led from the front as Cheshire paced the start to their new season to perfection, winning with five balls to spare against Cumberland at Neston Cricket Club.
And with difficult fixtures coming up against Northumberland (15 May) and Shropshire (29 May), Hall understandably wants another maximum two points in the bag.
A victory, providing Shropshire lose to Cumberland in their next match, could also see Cheshire go top of the Group One table.
"Everyone is excited about the new season, there's a good feeling amongst the players," added Hall.
"There's a great incentive to do well in this competition with a Lords final at the end of it, so we'll be giving everything to try and get there."
Group 1 - Latest standings

Teams Mat Won Lost Tied N/R Pts Net RR For Against
Shropshire 1 1 0 0 0 2 +0.341 232/47.2 228/50.0
Cheshire 1 1 0 0 0 2 +0.136 284/49.1 282/50.0
Cumberland 1 0 1 0 0 0 -0.136 282/50.0 284/49.1
Staffordshire 1 0 1 0 0 0 -0.341 228/50.0 232/47.2

Cheshire's 12-man team v Staffordshire:
Andy Hall (captain, Marple)
Adam Worrall (wicketkeeper, Alderley Edge)
Jonny Kettle (Nantwich)
Danny Berry (Hyde)
Lee Dixon (Oxton)
James Duffy (Hyde)
Warren Goodwin (Chester Boughton Hall)
Richard Logan (Chichester)
Adam Syddall (Urmston)
James Warrington (Nantwich)
Richard Wilkinson (Barnt Green)
Danny Woods (York)
Scorer: Jim Law

For any photos of the Cheshire team please call Neil Goulding on 07813 859986.