Avenging bowl-out loss is Norfolk’s mission ahead of Unicorns Knockout Trophy quarter-final at Staffordshire
Ashley Watson in action during Norfolk's rain-affected Championship draw at Hertforshire last weekend. Picture: Tim Ferley - Credit: Archant
Breaking the pattern is the key objective when Norfolk travel to Staffordshire in the quarter-finals of the Unicorns Knockout Trophy tomorrow.
This is the fourth season on the spin that Norfolk have finished second in their group in the one-day competition, losing their away quarter-final on the past three occasions.
Last season that came in frustrating fashion as well – also at Staffordshire – when rain saw the match abandoned with the visitors on 134 for four, leading to the hosts winning in a bowl-out.
'Last year was the wrong way to go about it but there had to be a result. Hopefully we'll get a full game this time,' said skipper Ashley Watson.
'We've had a really good start in one-day cricket, we had the one slip up at Lincolnshire but we were strong against Cumberland and we'll look to carry on our performance from there.'
More: Final day of Norfolk's match at Hertford is washed out
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Two changes have been made to the team which sealed a place in the knockout stages with that 47-run victory at Cumberland.
'Sam Arthurton unfortunately can't play due to work commitments so Jimmy Hale is back in after a broken toe, and Ben France is fully fit so he comes in for Ryan Findley,' Watson explained.
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'Jason Reynolds has scored nearly 400 runs already this season and in his first two games for Norfolk he's scored a 50 in each innings.
'He batted very well against Cumberland with a 50 off 19 balls and a different kind of batting display at Hertfordshire with 55 in the first innings and 52 in the second, so he gets the opportunity to open the batting.'
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Chris Brown has passed on the one-day captaincy to Watson this season but remains three-day skipper and still travels with the team as coach.
The off-spinner feels the team are fired up to put the pain of that bowl-out defeat behind them at Longton (11am start).
'To lose to Staffs on a bowl-out as we did, in quite a strong position, was devastating really and it took a while to get over,' Brown said. 'So we're raring to go and the weather's set fare for Sunday so we're looking forward to it.'
Norfolk: Reynolds, J Taylor, Hale, R Taylor, Denmark, France, Ashley Watson (C), Coote, Stolworthy, Todd, Groves (WK)
