Honours were even after day two of Suffolk’s Minor Counties Championship match against Norfolk, staged at Manor Park.

After a rain-affected first day, which saw Suffolk finish on 217 for six, the visitors progressed to 300 for nine declared off their 90 overs this morning.

In reply, Norfolk recovered from a shaky 38 for three, and then a worrying 197 for eight, to post a total of 289 all out off 89 overs, a first innings deficit of just 11 runs.

Suffolk openers Martyn Cull and Jaik Mickleburgh had just two overs to face tonight, both surviving with the score on 12 for no wicket, a lead of 23 with all 10 wickets in hand going into tomorrow’s final day.

Copdock & Old Ipswichian opener Cull had been the backbone of Suffolk’s innings on day one, scoring 96 off 165 deliveries, while promising teenager Alex Oxley (Bury St Edmunds) had contributed a well-measured 53 in a second wicket partnership worth 123.

Fellow youngster Darren Ironside impressed today with his unbeaten 36 off 53 deliveries, with Copdock & Old Ipswichian captain Tom Rash making 27.

Ben France, who had taken five wickets for his club Vauxhall Mallards in their surprise defeat of East Anglian Premier League leaders Sudbury on Saturday, again took five wickets, finishing with figures of 29-3-105-5.

Kyran Young, Frinton’s captain and all-rounder, removed Norfolk’s top three batsmen to leave the hosts on 38 for three.

However, Robert Taylor proved to be the thorn in the side of Suffolk, scoring a fine century to move Norfolk closer to the visitors’ first innings total.

Taylor dominated a partnership of 110 for the fourth wicket, with James Hale (31), who was finally caught by Rash off the bowling of Oxley. Taylor was caught and bowled by Hugo Douglas, which prompted four wickets to fall for the addition of just 23 runs.

At that point, with Norfolk still more than 100 runs adrift of Suffolk’s total of 300, a sizeable lead looked on the cards for Adam Mansfield’s men, only for home skipper Chris Brown to rescue the situation with an unbeaten 69 at No. 9.

Young was the pick of Suffolk’s bowlers, with four for 62 off 20 overs. Douglas and Jake Wakelin took two wickets apiece.