Suffolk bowled very tightly on day one of their Minor Counties Championship campaign, away against Bedfordshire at Luton yesterday.

The hosts were restricted to 248 all out, using up just four balls short of a full 90 overs.

In reply, Suffolk had coasted to 65 for no wicket at the close, with the Bury St Edmunds pairing of Tom Huggins and Justin Bishop still at the crease.

The visitors will therefore begin day two 183 runs behind, with all 10 wickets still in tact.

Bedfordshire were indebted to a good captain’s innings from Andy Reynoldson, to prevent Suffolk from taking a very tight stranglehold on this game.

Reynoldson had won the toss, and decided to bat, but that decision seemed to backfire as Suffolk took wickets at regular intervals.

And in the end, it was only a frustrating last wicket partnership of 91, between Reynoldson and last man Shabbz Hussain, which denied the visitors a big advantage.

Reynoldson was left unbeaten on 90, finding unlikely support from No 11 Hussain, who struck 50 runs from as many deliveries. The duo boosted the score from 159 for nine to 248 all out.

Earlier, Bishop and Josh Davey bowled impressively at the top of the innings, taking the first four wickets to fall before Bedfordshire had reached three figures.

Suffolk captain Bishop accounted for the top three batsmen, trapping Tom Rowe and Sam Johnson left before, while also capturing the wicket of Luke Thomas, caught by wicketkeeper Simon Guy.

Making his Minor Counties debut for Suffolk, fast bowler Davey trapped George Thurstance leg before for just one.

Reynoldson managed to steady one end, playing a patient innings that spanned 228 deliveries and featured just five boundaries in his knock of 90.

Wickets continued to fall at the other end, though, with Joe Ellis-Grewall celebrating fine figures of three for 62.

When former Bury St Edmunds all-rounder Davey, who is currently on the books of Somerset, took his second wicket of the innings, dismissing No. 10 Paul King lbw, the end appeared to be in sight.

Scottish international Davey had only made one previous appearance for Suffolk, back in 2009 in a Trophy fixture against Northumberland at Mildenhall.

The ex-Culford School pupil, who was at Middlesex until his release last season, finished with figures of two for 63 off 13 overs.

But it was experienced spinner Tom Huggins who belatedly broke the stubborn final wicket partnership, securing the fifth successful lbw appeal to dismiss Hussain.

Huggins and Bishop, whose final figures were an eye-catching 15-5-26-3, then made sure that Suffolk batted out the final 22 overs of the day.

Both played watchfully, with only three boundaries scored in those 22 overs. Bishop was unbeaten on 33 and a watchful Huggins not out 22.