Suffolk put up a good fight, on the final day, before eventually succumbing to an inevitable defeat at the hands of Norfolk in their Minor Counties Championship encounter at Manor Park yesterday.

Outplayed during the first two days, Suffolk batted far better in their second innings, but it was not enough to prevent a sizeable defeat by 91 runs.

Set an unlikely target of 397 to win, when Norfolk declared their second innings on 165 for three declared, Suffolk had slithered to 99 for four overnight.

Simon Guy and captain Justin Bishop both chalked up half-centuries, and Michael Comber weighed in with 48, before Norfolk wrapped up victory in the 84th over.

Guy and Comber had given the visitors a glimmer of hope with an excellent 85-run stand for the fifth wicket in the morning, before danger-man Guy was dismissed for 61 – he had struck three sixes and six fours in his 68-ball stay.

Comber followed soon afterwards, to leave Suffolk on 204 for six, and so ensure there would be no repeat of his wonderful knock of 194 which had effectively clinched victory in the previous match, against Northumberland at Jesmond.

The last four wickets did add 101, with Bishop making 55, and late order batsmen Aron Nijar and Jack Beaumont both contributing 20s, but there was to be no hat-trick of Suffolk wins following the recent triumphs over Buckinghamshire and Northumberland.

All in all, it was a disappointing three days for Suffolk, although Sudbury opener Nathan Poole can be content with his debut performance, which yielded innings of 51 and 23 at the top of the order.

Suffolk’s final fixture is a home match against Hertfordshire from Sunday, August 17, to be played at Copdock.