AN UNDEFEATED stand of 72 between Martyn Cull and Hassan Adnan has put Suffolk in a strong position entering the second day of their Minor Counties Championship match against Northumberland.

Cull and Adnan came together with Suffolk 24 for two in response to the visitors’ 218 all out at Wamil Way and they saw the home side safely through to stumps without further loss.

Suffolk will be looking to push on today and attempt to establish a potentially match-winning advantage in their first Championship match at Mildenhall since 2007.

After winning the toss Suffolk inserted Northumberland and they were rewarded instantly when Clacton all-rounder Michael Comber, who is on Essex’s books, removed Mark Dale with the last ball of the opening over thanks to a smart catch by Mark Nunn at mid-wicket.

Comber, who was not named in the original side, kept his place after making his debut in the previous match away to Buckinghamshire due to Essex not releasing colleague Tony Palladino to play.

Nunn, returning to the line-up after making his debut against Cambridgeshire earlier in the season, claimed his first wicket for the county in his seventh over when he had opener Joe Coyne caught behind.

That left Northumberland 57 for four in the 19th over, but Richard Waite (38) and Marc Symington (52) added 57 for the fifth wicket to double the total before Nunn struck again.

When Chris Swallow, who bowled very tidily and conceded just 37 runs in his 22 overs, dismissed Chris Hooker leg before, Northumberland were struggling at 145 for seven.

Phil Nicholson then joined Symington to frustrate Suffolk in a stand of 46 made from 105 deliveries before Symington, whose 52 spanned 183 minutes, was eighth out, bowled by Sudbury all-rounder Darren Batch on his Minor Counties debut.

Rees ended Nicholson’s knock with the aid of wicket-keeper Chris Warn’s third catch of the innings, which was wrapped up by Comber’s direct hit from mid-on as Michael Craigs tried to take a quick single.

Just as Northumberland lost an early wicket so too did Suffolk when skipper Tom Huggins struck a short and wide delivery straight to point off the fourth ball of the second over.

Fellow opener Ben France pulled Michael Craigs into the trees for a six over square leg before the bowler exacted his revenge off the very next delivery. That left Suffolk 24 for two in the sixth over, but Cull and Adnan steadied the ship in a stand worth 72 so far in 25 overs.