SUFFOLK were closing in on victory in today's Minor Counties Knock-out Trophy final at Lord's.After setting their opponents 220 to win, Suffolk had reduced Cheshire to128 for six after 38 overs of their reply.

SUFFOLK were closing in on victory in today's Minor Counties Knock-out Trophy final at Lord's.

After setting their opponents 220 to win, Suffolk had reduced Cheshire to

128 for six after 38 overs of their reply.

Paul King, who bowled his full allocation of 10 overs unchanged for just 20 runs, made an early breakthrough, having Cheshire skipper Andrew Hall caught behind by Chris Warn.

Martin Smith then removed Danny Leech lbw to make it 18 for two, and then he struck again when he had Nathan Dumelow caught at mid off by Andrew Mawson with the total on 26.

Justin Bishop then struck a big blow when he had Ben Spendlove, who had batted well for his 49, caught by Warn one short of his half century, to leave Cheshire 84 for four.

Suffolk tightened their grip on the game when James Duffy was caught and bowled by Paul Grayson and with the next ball at the other end Bishop induced the edge of Chris Bassano's bat.

With the run rate starting to climb Suffolk looked favourites to win the trophy for the first time.

Grayson, the former Essex all-rounder, had top-scored with 87 as Suffolk were all out with four balls of their 50 overs unused.

Suffolk skipper Phil Caley won the toss and chose to bat in glorious sunshine on the county's first ever appearance at the home of cricket.

Tom Huggins (9) and Andrew Mawson (11) both fell cheaply and when Ben France was dismissed for 24 with the score on 59 Suffolk were in a spot of bother.

Worse was to follow when Toby Hembry was run out for 10 with the total on 74 but Chris Swallow joined Grayson and the pair began to rebuild the innings in a stand of 84.

Swallow eventually fell for 38, stumped going for a big hit, and when captain Caley was caught at the wicket in the next over for just a single - a decision he was clearly not happy about - Suffolk had slipped to 159 for six.

Chris Warn helped add 38 with Grayson before he was caught behind for seven and then Grayson was caught on the long-on boundary for a splendid 87.

Paul King was out second ball but some lusty hitting from Justin Bishop, who was last man out for 15 including one six over mid-wicket, pushed the total up to 219.