Potentially, tomorrow’s final day at Ipswich School should be an exciting one, with Suffolk nursing a lead of 132 runs with seven second innings wickets in hand.

Visiting Cumberland declared on 273 for nine off their 90 overs, trailing Suffolk by 15 runs on first innings during today’s second day in this Minor Counties Championship fixture.

The hosts had accumulated 288 all out on day one, thanks chiefly to 96 from former Essex county opener Jaik Mickleburgh – he again played a terrific innings this evening – and a useful 72 from Sudbury’s club captain, Darren Batch, in the middle order.

Captain Adam Mansfield had contributed a swift 38 off 38 balls to boost Suffolk’s total, and he would have been hoping that his side would go on to gain a sizeable lead after Cumberland’s first innings, especially as the visitors had struggled on 33 for two at one stage.

But they recovered well, despite some good bowling from the trio of James Poulson, Jake Wakelin and Tom Rash.

Opener Ross Zelem top-scored with 76, accrued patiently off 202 balls and over nearly four hours at the crease.

Zelem put on 78 with skipper Gary Pratt for the fourth wicket, before becoming one of Wakelin’s three victims.

Pratt was eventually the sixth wicket to fall, another victim of Wakelin, having made 60 off 109 deliveries.

Copdock & Old Ipswichian skipper, Tom Rash, took two for 38 off 16 overs, while his new ball partner Poulson returned to the attack to claim figures of 32-11-74-4 by taking the final three wickets of the innings.

A rapid 33 not out off 32 balls from Toby Bulcock boosted Cumberland’s final total.

Mickleburgh took centre stage in Suffolk’s second innings, racing to 76 not out as the home side finished the second day on 117 for three.

Martyn Cull (2) went early, while Frinton captain Kyran Young (10) and his club-mate Michael Comber (12) were both dismissed after getting themselves in.

But Mickleburgh and Batch (14 not out), both in-form players, put on an unbroken 49 for the fourth wicket, to leave the game intriguingly poised going into the final day.