IT WILL require something special from Suffolk if they are to avoid a heavy defeat in their Minor Counties Championship match against Norfolk today.

The home team continued to call the tune on day two at Horsford, declaring on 302 for six before reducing Suffolk to 109 for five in their second innings – still 12 runs shy of making Norfolk bat again.

Norfolk’s lead owed much to James Spelman, who took his overnight score from 45 to 138 before being dismissed off the final ball of the 90th over which coincided with the declaration.

Spelman and opening partner Matthew Warnes extended their stand from 107 overnight to 141 before Warnes fell one run shy of his half century caught behind off the first ball of the 47th over of the innings bowled by Tom Huggins.

Just four balls later Sam Arthurton pushed the ball to mid-wicket and set off for a sharp single, and when the return came in Huggins dislocated a finger attempting to catch the ball. He was taken to hospital and took no further part in the day’s proceedings.

The dismissal of Arthurton, caught at first slip in the 59th over, sparked a mini-collapse which saw Norfolk lose three wickets for seven runs all to Phil Edwards.

He had former Surrey batsman Trevor Ward lbw four overs later and held a simple return catch when Peter Lambert mistimed a pull shot straight up in to the air in his next over.

Norfolk led by one run with six wickets intact at this stage, but any hopes Suffolk had of getting right back into the match were soon snuffed out by successive 60-run stands. Stephen Gray made 24 before he pulled a shot straight in to the hands of Hassan Adnan at long leg in the 83rd over.

The fifth-wicket stand spanned 110 deliveries, but the next 60 runs came off just 45 balls as Luke Caswell struck 37 not out from just 26 balls with one four and two sixes. Spelman’s 279-ball knock containing 17 fours finally ended when he top-edged to mid-wicket.

Suffolk, starting their second innings 121 runs in arrears and without recognised opener Huggins, who hopes to bat today, were plunged in to further disarray from the fourth ball when Martyn Cull was caught.

Archie Gravell, promoted to No.3, batted well until he charged slow left armer George Walker in the 23rd over and was stumped.

Six overs earlier square leg umpire Barry Toombs had been hit below the kneecap by a sweep shot and was temporarily replaced by ex-Minor Counties umpire John Tythcott, who was in the crowd watching.

Just five balls after Toombs returned to the middle he gave Adnan out leg before as Suffolk lost their third wicket.

Ben France, who had been restored to the top of the order, had batted for 103 deliveries and made 63 (six fours and two sixes) before he was caught by Stephen Gray at the wicket in the 36th over.

He was joined in the pavilion four overs later by Chris Warn as he put up a simple catch to mid-wicket, and just eight balls later rain curtailed the day’s play 52 minutes before stumps were scheduled.

HORSFORD SCOREBOARD

NORFOLK

First innings

(Overnight: 107 for 0)

J Spelman c Bishop b Finch 138, MR Warnes c Warn b Huggins 49, S Arthurton c Finch b Edwards 8, T Ward lbw b Edwards 2, P Lambert c & b Edwards 2, S Gray c Adnan b Bishop 24, L Caswell not out 37. Extras 42. Total (for 6 wkts dec, off 90 overs) 302.

Did not bat: C Brown, G Walker, MW Warnes, K Bunting.

Fall: 1-141, 2-175, 3-180, 4-182, 5-242, 6-302.

Bowling: Edwards 18.2-6-37-3; Hunn 9-2-31-0; Bishop 16-2-74-1; France 5-1-19-0; Finch 33-7-109-1; Huggins 8.4-1-18-1.

SUFFOLK

First innings: 181 (C Brown 5 for 31).

Second innings: M Cull c Ward b MW Warnes 0, B France c Gray b Brown 63, A Gravell st Gray b Walker 22, H Adnan lbw b Brown 0,

J Bishop not out 12, C Warn c Arthurton b Brown 5, J Finch not out 1. Extras 6. Total (for 5 wkts, off 40.4 overs) 109.

Fall: 1-0, 2-74, 3-75, 4-96, 5-106.

Bowling: MW Warnes 6-2-16-1; Bunting 4-1-10-0; Brown 16-8-20-3; Walker 14.4-2-57-1.

Norfolk 7pts, Suffolk 3pts.