Suffolk and Cumberland share the honours on opening day’s play at Ipswich

Jaik Mickleburgh, scored an excellent 96

Honours were pretty much even on day one of Suffolk’s Unicorns Championship Eastern Division clash with Cumberland at Ipswich School.

Winning the toss, Suffolk decided to bat and made a decent 288, with Jaik Mickleburgh falling just four short of a deserved century, while David Batch scored a quick-fire 72.

But Suffolk never got away from the visitors, with Toby Bulcock taking five wickets for them.

Mickleburgh and Keiran Young put on almost 100 for the second wicket, but when Young went and Michael Comber went for a duck after just three balls, Cumberland sensed they could get through the Suffolk middle order.

Jaik Mickleburgh, backing up at the non-striker's end, as Liam Gray bowls during the Minor Counties Championship between Suffolk and Cumberland. Mickleburgh scored 99 in Suffolk's second innings.

They would have done but for Batch’s fine 72 and a breezy 38 from Adam Mansfield which saw Suffolk all out for 288.

Cumberland had 20 overs to negotiate and they lost the wicket of Jordan Clarke, with James Poulson picking up the wicket.

Scoreboard

Suffolk first innings

M Cull c C Hodgson b A Syddall 13

JC Mickleburgh b C Hodgson 96

KP Young c RP Zelem b A Syddall 37

M Comber lbw b A Syddall 0

DP Batch st J Clarke b T Bulcock 72

BD Shepperson lbw b T Bulcock 8

T Rash c J Miles b T Bulcock 12

A Mansfield c J Clarke b T Bulcock 38

J Beaumont b L Grey 1

JB Wakelin not out 1 3 5 0 0 33.33

JB Poulson c J Clarke b T Bulcock 1

Extras 9

Total 288 all out.

Cumberland bowling

A Syddall 23.0 6 80 3

L Grey 19.0 5 45 1

T Bulcock 27.0 4 85 5

S Wood 7.0 0 31 0

C Brownlow 3.0 0 13 0

C Hodgson 8.0 0 32 1

Cumberland first innings

RP Zelem not out 16

J Clarke c A Mansfield b JB Poulson 6

C Brownlow not out 2

Extras 4

Total 28 for 1

Suffolk bowling

T Rash 6.0 1 16 0

JB Poulson 10.0 7 9 1

KP Young 4.0 2 3 0