Suffolk claimed an exciting three-wicket win over Buckinghamshire in the Unicorns Knock-Out Trophy at Ipswich School, Ivry Street, today, to move into the quarter-finals.

The visitors were bowled out for 191 in 46.2 overs, and Suffolk kept their nerve to clinch victory in the final over, with just two balls remaining of their allotted 50 overs.

An in-form Josh Cantrell was the star of Suffolk’s effort in the field, the right-arm offbreak bowler taking three for 21 off his 10 overs to restrict Bucks to a sub-200 total. Cantrell had taken seven wickets for Bury St Edmunds the previous weekend.

There were also three wickets for former Kent all-rounder Adam Ball, who claimed three for 53 off 8.2 overs.

Suffolk had a dream start, reducing their opponents to four for three. James Poulson took the early wicket of Charlie Macdonnell (2), caught by wicketkeeper Adam Mansfield, before Ball removed both fellow opener Masoor Khan (1) and Michael Payne (0) in quick succession, the former trapped leg before and the latter caught by Mansfield.

The visitors recovered, thanks to a 73-run stand for the fourth wicket between Shelvin Gumbs (44) and Garry Park (22), but four wickets then fell in rapid succession to leave them tottering on 94 for seven.

Cantrell did the main damage, claiming the wickets of Grubbs (caught by Poulson), Robin Pritchard (caught by Billy Moulton-Day) and Cameron Parsons (LBW), before an excellent partnership of 94 for the eighth wicket between George Russell (53) and Thomas Hampton (47) at least gave Suffolk a testing target.

Jack Foley (23) and Jaik Mickleburgh (21) gave the hosts a solid start, but they were struggling on 54 for three before Ball (27) and Darren Batch (40) added 74 for the fourth wicket.

Both men were back in the pavilion with the total on 130 for five, before Tom Rash (18) and Ben Shepperson (26 not out) nursed Suffolk towards victory.

Shepperson was at the crease to seal victory, alongside Mansfield (12 not out), the duo putting on an unbeaten 21 to see Suffolk over the line on 192 for seven off 49.4 overs. They had needed 13 runs off the final two overs, seven runs off the final over.