Oliver Bocking cleaned up the tail as Suffolk completed another big victory, by more than an innings, to condemn hosts Hertfordshire to a heavy defeat in their latest Minor Counties Championship fixture.

Bocking continued his excellent run of form as Suffolk, fresh from their home win over Norfolk by an innings and two runs a fortnight ago, saw off Hertfordshire by an innings and eight runs at the start of the final day at North Mymms today.

Having starred in the previous match against Norfolk, when he took five wickets, Bocking repaid the faith shown in the selectors by taking 11 wickets in this latest clash to sink Herts without a trace.

Former Ipswich School pupil Bocking, who plays his club cricket for Colchester & East Essex, had helped to restrict Herts to a below-par 221 all out in the first innings, with excellent figures of six for 44 off 18 overs.

And Bocking took five more wickets in the second innings (17.5-3-48-5), as Herts were skittled out for just 189 after Suffolk had amassed an impressive 418 for seven in their one innings, boosted by centuries from Kyran Young (139) and Jed Cawkwell (135).

Resuming on their overnight score of 172 for six, Herts added just 17 more runs while losing their last four wickets, so meaning that Suffolk did not have to bat again.

Bocking made the initial breakthrough, having Ben Cowell caught by substitute fielder Fergus Atkins for 18, after just one run had been added to the total.

Cowell and Syed Kazmi had put on 43 for the seventh wicket, but Kazmi soon followed his partner back to the pavilion, caught by wicketkeeper Adam Mansfield off Tom Rash for 47.

It was Mansfield’s sixth catch of the innings, accounting for Herts’ top six batsmen, to add to the six that he caught in the first innings, making it a remarkable 12 catches in the match.

Bocking then completed the victory by trapping Sam Davis leg before for two, and then bowling last man Ben Waring for a duck.

Match details:

Herts: 221 (A Axon 86, O Bocking 6 for 44) & 189 (J Cooke 50, O Bocking 5 for 48), Suffolk 418 for 7 (K Young 139, J Cawkwell 135, J Beaumont 57).

Suffolk won by an innings and eight runs.