SUFFOLK lost to a Derbyshire XI by seven wickets at Ockbrook & Borrowash CC today. Suffolk struggled in testing conditions, losing their first three batsmen for 36 and then four wickets with the score on 43 before Simon Rees and captain Paul King added 51 for the ninth wicket to bring some respectability to a total of 121 all out.

Nick Garnham

SUFFOLK lost to a Derbyshire XI by seven wickets at Ockbrook & Borrowash CC today.

Suffolk struggled in testing conditions, losing their first three batsmen for 36 and then four wickets with the score on 43 before Simon Rees and captain Paul King added 51 for the ninth wicket to bring some respectability to a total of 121 all out.

Although Andrew McGarry picked up two cheap wickets Chris Thompson, with an undefeated 50, saw Derbyshire reach their target in 30.5 overs.

Kevin Brooks, Suffolk's director of cricket, said: “Conditions were not ideal, but we had the opportunity to get some middle practise which is what the trip was about.

“The conditions offered some help for the bowlers and Ian Hunter and Kevin Dean bowled well at the start and tested our batsmen.”

The match was a warm-up for Sunday's first group game, away to Northumberland, which sees Suffolk start the defence of the Minor Counties KO Cup which they won at Lord's last August.

Opening batsman Tom Huggins, who has been playing for Essex 2nd XI this week, and Martin Smith are added to the team that played today - skipper Phil Caley was 12th man - for the match at Gosforth CC which starts at 11am.

Brooks said: “It is a nice challenge for us to try and defend the trophy. It has never been done before, so it is something to try and achieve this season.

“We had been close a couple of times and had not done ourselves justice in big games, but we did that at Lord's. It was a tremendous performance on a tremendous day and when you have enjoyed those days you look forward to more of them.”

Of Sunday's opponents Brooks said: “It could not be harder for us, but these are the kind of games that you have got to win if you are going to be successful.

“We had a difficult group last year and we have again this year. While we consider ourselves to have been successful over the last few seasons, Northumberland have also enjoyed their fair share of success, winning and losing one-day finals in the last four years and winning the Eastern Division last year.”

Suffolk squad: T Huggins, A Mawson, B France, N Lee, H Adnan, C Swallow, C Warn (wkt), P Caley (capt), J Bishop, S Rees, P Edwards, P King, A McGarry, M Smith.

Scoreboard

Suffolk: B France c Dean b Hunter 9, A Mawson lbw b Dean 7, N Lee c Patel b McFadyean 8, H Adnan c Poynton b Hunter 2, C Swallow b Jones 5, C Warn b McFadyean 0, J Bishop c Poynton b Jones 0, P Edwards b Needham 9, S Rees c & b White 23, P King b White 36, A McGarry not out 0. Extras 22. Total (39.2 overs) 121.

Bowling: Dean 6-2-14-1; Hunter 8-2-17-2; White 5.2-1-10-2; Jones 5-2-11-2; McFadyean 7-4-12-2; Needham 8-0-52-1.

Fall: 1-18, 2-26, 3-36, 4-43, 5-43, 6-43, 7-43, 8-56, 9-107, 10-121.

Derbyshire XI: C Thompson not out 50, A Patel lbw b McGarry 3, J Needham b McGarry 3, D Redfern c Warn b Bishop 27, J Ratcliffe not out 18. Extras 22. Total (for 3 wkts, 30.5 overs) 123.

Bowling: McGarry 7-2-5-2; King 5-1-17-0; Edwards 4-0-17-0; Bishop 5-0-28-1; Swallow 6-0-17-0; Rees 3.5-0-26-0.

Fall: 1-11, 2-29, 3-79.