TONY Palladino took six wickets as Suffolk dismissed Buckinghamshire for 273 on the opening day of their Minor Counties Championship match at Gerrards Cross yesterday.

The Essex bowler won three lbw decisions as he returned figures of 22-5-69-6 after the hosts had won the toss and chosen to bat.

Stand-in skipper Tom Huggins led the way with an undefeated half century as Suffolk replied with 100 for two to complete a satisfactory first day’s work, after bagging maximum bowling points. The Eastern Division leaders had Bucks struggling at 149 for six before a seventh-wicket stand of 59 revived the innings.

Opener Hamzal Taj proved a thorn in Suffolk’s side, top-scoring with 74 from 182 balls faced in 269 minutes with seven fours and one six and sharing in three half-century stands before he was seventh out.

He put on 58 with opening partner Fahim Qureshi before the latter was well held in the 18th over in the covers by 17-year-old Suffolk debutant Sasha Ward to give Essex all-rounder Michael Comber a wicket on his Minor Counties debut. Taj and ex-Gloucestershire all-rounder Mark Hardinges, who came together in the 24th over of the innings, added 60 for the fourth wicket before Hardinges fell to Palladino in the 45th over.

The opener was then joined by Matthew Watson with Bucks 149 for six in the 53rd over, and they were not parted until the 74th over when Taj was snapped up by Martyn Cull at short leg off James Finch.

The former Yorkshire 2nd XI spinner, who was introduced into the attack at 12.18pm, toiled away at the Pavilion End of the picturesque ground for the remainder of the Bucks innings which came at 5.20pm, an unbroken spell of more than 35 overs.

Watson was last out, after facing 129 deliveries spanning 128 minutes and striking six fours and two sixes, when he was caught on the long off boundary by Simon Rees.

Andrew Mawson looked comfortable enough until he was caught behind in the 12th over. Three balls later Cull was bowled shouldering arms to leave the visitors 58 for two.

However, Huggins continued his recent good form and together with Hassan Adnan saw Suffolk through to stumps without further alarm.

Suffolh replied on day two with 378 for nine, Peter Turnbull top-scoring with 89 and Chris Warn and Huggins scoring half centuries.