Suffolk Minor Counties cricketers enjoyed their best season for more than a decade, as NICK GARNHAM reports

East Anglian Daily Times: Tom Rash batting against Staffordshire at West Bromwich Dartmouth. He made valuable contributions with both bat and ball during the seasonTom Rash batting against Staffordshire at West Bromwich Dartmouth. He made valuable contributions with both bat and ball during the season (Image: Archant)

So close. Suffolk came within a whisker of success in two of the three formats in 2018.

After an inauspicious start in the new T20 competition, Suffolk blazed a trail in both the 50-over and three-day formats.

Supporters were able to glimpse Tymal Mills making an appearance in a Suffolk shirt for the first time in five years in two of their four T20 double-header fixtures.

The England international, seeking match sharpness, was limited by his congenital back condition to playing in just one match on each occasion, and with only 98 runs to defend could do little to prevent defeat to Norfolk.

East Anglian Daily Times: Kyran Young holds his arms aloft to celebrate his maiden century for Suffolk against Hertfordshire at North Mymms. Jed Cawkwell, who also made a hundred, is about to congratulate himKyran Young holds his arms aloft to celebrate his maiden century for Suffolk against Hertfordshire at North Mymms. Jed Cawkwell, who also made a hundred, is about to congratulate him (Image: Archant)

Suffolk batted badly in both matches and were almost out of the running to qualify from their group before their campaign had got going.

They shared the spoils with both Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire either side of winning both matches against Bedfordshire – the first a nail-biter the second by a distance after the visitors slipped to 23-8.

Suffolk’s only ever visit to a one-day final came in 2007 and victory over Cheshire at Lord’s – two years after they last won the Eastern Division of the Minor Counties Championship.

The Class of 2018 so nearly matched those achievements.

East Anglian Daily Times: Michael Comber batting against Lincolnshire at Ipswich School. Comber scored two half-centuries in the match as Suffolk hung on for a drawMichael Comber batting against Lincolnshire at Ipswich School. Comber scored two half-centuries in the match as Suffolk hung on for a draw (Image: Archant)

In the Unicorns KO Trophy Buckinghamshire were beaten by three wickets with two balls to spare to set up a quarter-final tie versus Oxfordshire at Banbury.

James Poulson (10-4-15-1) and Darren Batch (10-1-18-0) bowled beautifully and together with Tom Rash’s 5 for 34 set up a six-wicket win with nearly 14 overs unused.

Suffolk were denied an appearance in the final at Wormsley after a pulsating semi-final at Sidmouth that ebbed and flowed like the sea that this picturesque ground overlooks.

The first rain to fall in the area for six weeks saw the match initially reduced to 35-overs-a-side, before a further two overs were lost to a brief shower.

East Anglian Daily Times: Jaik Mickleburgh during his 173 not out against Bedfordshire at Bury St Edmunds. The former Essex batsman was sorely missed in the two championship matches he missedJaik Mickleburgh during his 173 not out against Bedfordshire at Bury St Edmunds. The former Essex batsman was sorely missed in the two championship matches he missed (Image: Archant)

Chasing a revised target of 200 under the Duckworth Lewis method, Suffolk had one foot in the final when Poulson struck the second ball of the last over for four, leaving two required from four balls.

He was then stumped and Josh Cantrell, the youngest member of the team, could only scramble a leg bye off the last ball to condemn Suffolk to the narrowest of losses as the hosts went through by virtue of losing fewer wickets.

Suffolk’s three-day season got off to an inauspicious start, an understrength side losing by 185 runs away to Staffordshire.

Just a week after that heart-breaking loss to Devon, Rash’s 6-38 and Mickeburgh’s unbeaten 173 paved the way for a big win over Bedfordshire to get Suffolk’s Championship challenge back on track.

East Anglian Daily Times: Darren Batch bowls during his economical spell in the Unicorns KO Trophy quarter-final victory over Oxfordshire at Banbury. He also top-scored for Suffolk in the match with 46Darren Batch bowls during his economical spell in the Unicorns KO Trophy quarter-final victory over Oxfordshire at Banbury. He also top-scored for Suffolk in the match with 46 (Image: Archant)

Norfolk were then blown away at Copdock, Mickleburgh and skipper Adam Mansfield sharing an opening partnership of 175 to secure a three-figure first-innings lead.

Michael Comber made short work of the tail on the last morning to secure an innings victory – a feat Suffolk repeated against hosts Hertfordshire at North Mymms.

Ollie Bocking, in only his second match, claimed 6 for 44 and 5-48 either side of Suffolk’s mammoth 418-7. Kyran Young (139) struck his maiden ton and featured in a county third-wicket record stand of 262 with Jed Cawkwell (135) before Jack Beaumont struck what is believed to be the county’s fastest-ever championship half-century off 19 deliveries.

Wicket-keeper Mansfield took six catches in each innings to set a new county record and bagged six more victims as Suffolk, minus talisman Mickleburgh, found leaders Lincolnshire a tougher proposition.

East Anglian Daily Times: Tymal Mills bowling against Bedfordshire in the first T20 fixture at Bury St Edmunds. The England T20 international made his first appearance for Suffolk for five years Photo: NICK GARNHAMTymal Mills bowling against Bedfordshire in the first T20 fixture at Bury St Edmunds. The England T20 international made his first appearance for Suffolk for five years Photo: NICK GARNHAM (Image: Archant)

Suffolk salvaged a draw largely thanks to a rearguard action from Rash and Comber, and headed to Saffron Walden hanging onto Lincolnshire’s coat tails.

Mansfield eclipsed stumper Stuart Westley’s 40-year county record for most dismissals in a season as Suffolk sealed victory over Cambridgeshire on the final afternoon.

They actually led the table until 5.15pm when Cumberland finally succumbed to Lincolnshire, who regained pole position to leave Suffolk runners-up for the second season running.

East Anglian Daily Times: Ben Shepperson looks crestfallen as the Sidmouth scoreboard shows that Suffolk and Devon have both scored 199 runs and the home team have gone through to the Unicorns KO Trophy Final on fewer wickets lost Photo: NICK GARNHAMBen Shepperson looks crestfallen as the Sidmouth scoreboard shows that Suffolk and Devon have both scored 199 runs and the home team have gone through to the Unicorns KO Trophy Final on fewer wickets lost Photo: NICK GARNHAM (Image: Archant)

Suffolk’s 2018 results

Unicorns T20 Competition

Woolpit: *Suffolk 98 (D Batch 37, R Taylor 3-18, B Stolworthy 3-22). Norfolk 99-3 (S Marillier 49). Norfolk won by 7 wkts. *Suffolk 95 (A Watson 3-10, R Taylor 3-25). Norfolk 99-2 (J Reynolds 41, S Arthurton 28). Norfolk won by 8 wkts.

East Anglian Daily Times: Skipper Adam Mansfield, who led from the front and broke a 40-year-old record for most dismissals by a Suffolk wicket-keeper in a season Photo: NICK GARNHAMSkipper Adam Mansfield, who led from the front and broke a 40-year-old record for most dismissals by a Suffolk wicket-keeper in a season Photo: NICK GARNHAM (Image: Archant)

Peterborough: *Cambridgeshire 153-5 (J Bowers 41no, E Ballard 35, B Howgego 32, J Foley 3-16). Suffolk 127 (J Mickleburgh 50, R Gordon 3-24). Cambridgeshire won by 26 runs. *Cambridgeshire 142-6 (J Williams 38). Suffolk 146-2 (A Ball 55no, J Foley 41, K Young 33no). Suffolk won by 8 wkts.

Bury St Edmunds: *Suffolk 172-8 (J Foley 51, J Cantrell 30, J Fuller 3-19). Bedfordshire 171-6 (D Brierly 52, B Mansell 44, A Momi 39, B Moulton-Day 3-26). Suffolk won by 1 run. Bedfordshire 55 (J Poulson 3-6, J Foley 3-28). *Suffolk 58-2. Suffolk won by 8 wkts.

Harpenden: *Hertfordshire 101-8. Suffolk 106-2 (J Poulson 68no, D Batch 31no). Suffolk won by 8 wkts. *Hertfordshire 136-5 (R Hussain 38, J Scott 38). Suffolk 106 (E Wharton 3-23). Hertfordshire won by 30 runs.

Unicorns KO Trophy

First round – Ipswich School: Buckinghamshire 191 (G Russell 53, T Hampton 47, S Gumbs 44, J Cantrell 3-21, A Ball 3-53) *Suffolk 192-7 (D Batch 40). Suffolk won by 3 wkts.

Quarter-Final - Banbury: *Oxfordshire 180-8 (O Clarke 75, J Cater 63, T Rash 5-34). Suffolk 191-4 (D Batch 46, K Young 44, D Ironside 42no). Suffolk won by 6 wkts.

Semi-Final - Sidmouth: *Devon 201-8 (Z Bess 78no, T Rash 3-33). Suffolk 199-9 (D Batch 47, Z Bess 3-32, B Green 3-38). Devon won on losing fewer wickets.

Unicorns Championship

West Bromwich Dartmouth: *Staffordshire 374-8 (S Kelsall 85, M Hill 74no, K Ali 63) & 248 (T Maxfield 85, Cantrell 4-56). Suffolk 247 (A Mansfield 50, J Foley 48, B Shepperson 44, T Maxfield 4-29, B Phagura 4-58) & 190 (A Mansfield 49, B Phagura 3-22, P Byrne 3-34). Staffordshire (24pts) bt Suffolk (5pts) by 185 runs.

Bury St Edmunds: *Suffolk 291 (T Rash 59, D Ironside 47, J Foley 44, J Cantrell 43no, A Reynoldson 4-52, M Ahmadzai 4-69) & 320-3 dec (J Mickleburgh 173no, B Shepperson 58no, K Young 51). Bedfordshire 105 (S Johnson 48no, T Rash 6-38) & 343 (D Brierly 152no, A Reynoldson 70, K Young 3-38). Suffolk (23pts) bt Bedfordshire (4pts) by 163 runs.

Copdock: Norfolk 259-9 (S Arthurton 78) & 124 (J Cantrell 3-16, M Comber 3-18, O Bocking 3-47). *Suffolk 385-9 (J Mickleburgh 111, A Mansfield 70, M Comber 45, A Hanby 3-77, A Watson 3-121). Suffolk (24pts) bt Norfolk (6pts) by an innings & 2 runs.

North Mymms: *Hertfordshire 221 (A Axon 86, O Bocking 6-44) & 189 (J Cooke 50, S Kazmi 47, O Bocking 5-48, D Ironside 3-48). Suffolk 418-7 (K Young 139, J Cawkwell 135, J Beaumont 57). Suffolk (24pts) bt Hertfordshire (4pts) by an innings & 8 runs.

Ipswich School: Lincolnshire 339-5 (B Shafayat 134, D Freeman 53no, L Kimber 46) & 233-7 dec (J Kendall 100, J Timby 55, J Cantrell 3-29). *Suffolk 203 (M Comber 59, A Willerton 6-49) & 246-9 (M Comber 56no, T Rash 49, A Willerton 3-64, A Tillcock 3-64). Suffolk (7pts) drew with Lincolnshire (12pts).

Saffron Walden: Suffolk 232 (J Mickleburgh 78, J Sykes 7-82) & 290 (J Mickleburgh 70, T Rash 46, J Sykes 5-124). *Cambridgeshire 253 (R Sayer 60, N Gorantia 53, O Bocking 4-74, M Comber 3-56) & 163 (E Ballard 75, J Beaumont 4-21, M Comber 3-42). Suffolk (22pts) bt Cambridgeshire (6pts) by 106 runs.

*Denotes home team

Unicorns Championship Eastern Division

FINAL TABLE

P W D L Bt Bl Pts

Lincolnshire 6 4 1 1 21 18 107

Suffolk 6 4 1 1 16 21 105

Staffordshire 6 4 1 1 18 17 103

Bucks 6 4 0 2 14 21 99

Norfolk 6 3 1 2 14 20 86

Cambs 6 3 0 3 14 23 85

Cumberland 6 2 1 3 16 19 55

Herts 6 1 1 4 12 19 51

Bedfordshire 6 0 2 4 10 21 39

North’land 6 0 2 4 9 20 37

Play-off final: Lincolnshire lost to Western Division winners Berkshire by an innings & 32 runs.

Averages

Batting

I NO R HS Ave

J Mickleburgh 6 1 487 173 97.40

J Foley 3 1 104 48 52.00

J Cantrell 8 4 164 43 41.00

J Cawkwell 6 0 202 135 33.67

A Mansfield 8 0 249 70 31.13

K Young 10 0 306 139 30.60

B Shepperson 10 1 273 58 30.33

T Rash 9 1 238 59 29.75

M Comber 9 22 197 59 -15.15

J Beaumont 10 0 243 57 24.30

M Cul l 4 0 67 33 16.75

O Bocking 5 3 32 15 16.00

D Ironside 8 0 94 47 11.75

A Oxley 3 0 13 12 4.33

J Gallagher 3 1 0 0 0.00

Bowling

O M R Wks Ave

O Bocking 133.3 25 456 25 18.24

M Comber 140.1 33 403 21 19.19

J Cantrell 106.5 23 302 15 20.13

J Beaumont 107 19 292 12 24.33

T Rash 165.1 32 515 17 30.29

K Young 81 11 303 1 30.300

D Ironside 59 9 203 6 33.38

J Foley 35 4 125 2 62.50

J Gallagher 42 9 132 0 -

B Shepperson 2 1 9 0 -