Jaik Mickleburgh says he has not been surprised by the success of Suffolk’s Minor Counties side so far this season, writes Nick Garnham.

Mickleburgh signed for Suffolk, who finished eighth in the Eastern Division last season, as their professional this year after his release by Essex at the end of the 2016 season.

The opening batsman has been in fine form so far for Suffolk, scoring 451 runs in four Unicorns Championship innings and only being dismissed once.

Suffolk, who travel to Manor Park to face Norfolk in their next three-day fixture starting on Sunday, sit on top of the Eastern Division after three matches.

Mickleburgh, who played for Norfolk before joining Essex in 2008, said: “This is my first year playing Minor Counties cricket for a number of years and we have got a really good bunch of lads with decent cricketing ability and players that have played at a higher level.

“I am not surprised at all at how well we have played, but we need to keep that running. We have got three games left and we need to take each game as they come and look to win every game.

“We have played some very good cricket and at the end of the three days generally whoever has played the best comes out on top.”

Mickleburgh paid tribute to Copdock groundsman Martin Taylor for the wickets he has produced, including last week’s three-day county fixture against Hertfordshire.

The match ended in a draw as Suffolk fell 52 runs short of the 316 they required for victory in the fourth innings, with Mickleburgh anchoring the chase with a faultless 113 not out.

He said: “It is always nice to be scoring runs like in the last game at Copdock and also in the league.

“We play on some good cricket wickets at Copdock and all credit to Martin Taylor who produces them week in, week out.

“We have a plan of the way we want things to go at home and he delivers time and time again, so full credit to him, although you still have to go out and score the runs.”