Suffolk enjoyed the better of the opening day of their second Unicorns Minor Counties Championship fixture, thanks to a captain’s display from Tom Huggins at Copdock yesterday.

Huggins took three wickets as visiting Norfolk were bowled out for 270, and then replied with an unbeaten 30 as Suffolk ended the day on 79 for no wicket.

Going into today’s second day, therefore, Suffolk are trailing by 191 runs with all 10 wickets in hand, a potentially strong position.

Having lost their first three-day fixture of the campaign, beaten by Lincolnshire at the Victory Ground, Bury St Edmunds, it was vital that Suffolk got off to a good start against their arch rivals.

Norfolk won the toss, and opted to bat, but they struggled throughout most of the day, despite a couple of half-centuries from opener James Spelman, and skipper Chris Brown.

In fact, the visitors looked like posting a very mediocre first innings total, when slipping to 123 for five, and then losing their sixth wicket at just 160.

However, a 74-run partnership for the seventh wicket, between Brett Stolworthy (36) and Brown (52), in a little over 20 overs, rescued the situation for them.

After Jon Steel and Tom Rash had made the first two breakthroughs, with the latter dismissing danger-man Sam Arthurton for 27 – one of wicket-keeper Simon Guy’s four catches – it was Huggins who put Suffolk in the driving seat.

The home skipper took the next three wickets, including that of Spelman, whom he trapped lbw for 54. He also took the wicket of former Suffolk stalwart Ben France (9) to another catch by Guy.

But it was left to Copdock fast left-arm bowler Matt Wareing to put a stop to Norfolk’s late innings rally. The Essex 2nds pace-man took three for 37 off 15 overs, on his home ground, removing both Stolworthy and Brown when they were well set.

In reply, Suffolk coasted to 79 for no wicket off 21 overs, during the final 90 minutes of the day, thanks to openers Huggins (30no) and Nathan Poole (36no).