Day one ebbed and flowed as Suffolk continue to nurse outside chances of winning the Minor Counties Championship Eastern Division title.

Suffolk started their final Championship fixture of the season a mere six points behind leaders Lincolnshire, against whom they battled heroically to earn a draw in their previous match.

Captain Adam Mansfield won the toss and elected to bat, against hosts Cambridgeshire at Saffron Walden.

And in a day of mixed fortunes, Suffolk initially threatened a big score when Mansfield and Jaik Mickleburgh put on 79 for the first wicket, before Mickleburgh enjoyed good support from Martin Cull to see the score up to 142 for two.

But the visitors then lost their last eight wickets for just 90 runs, to be bowled out for 232 in the 78th over.

Suffolk soon regained the ascendancy, when quickly reducing Cambs to a precarious 47 for four in their reply, Michael Comber taking three of the four wickets.

But Cambs recovered to finish the day on 135 for four, with Rob Sayer (52 not out) and Nikhil Gorantia (32 not out) putting on an unbroken stand of 88 for the fifth wicket.

Earlier in the day, Mansfield made a patient 31 off 61 balls at the top of the innings, and Cull contributed a watchful 33 off 113 deliveries at no. 4.

But the mainstay of the innings with an excellent 78 from former Essex stalwart Mickleburgh, who struck nine fours in his 128-ball stay before he was the third wicket to fall with the total on 142, prompting a collapse.

Jack Beaumont (36) and Tom Rash (22) added 45 for the seventh wicket to at least see Suffolk past the 200-mark.

Meanwhile, Lincolnshire had a truncated day at Cumberland, progressing to 182 for five at the close.