SUFFOLK have it all to do at Mildenhall today if they are to make it four wins on the bounce in the Minor Counties Championship.

The home team converted their overnight platform of 96 for two – in response to the visitors’ 218 - into a first-innings lead of 54 yesterday, before Northumberland’s batsman then got on top in their second innings.

An opening stand of 106 between Mark Dale and Joe Coyne put Northumberland in a promising position at the close, which came with the visitors 85 ahead with eight second-innings wickets still standing to set up an intriguing final day’s play at Wamil Way.

After three successive wins had propelled Suffolk to the top of the Eastern Division, Northumberland are proving tougher opposition to crack.

Martyn Cull and Hassan Adnan extended their third-wicket alliance to 73 yesterday before Adnan was caught behind, bringing Michael Comber to the wicket in the 33rd over.

The Essex all-rounder, playing just his second match for Suffolk, batted aggressively in scoring 54 in 59 minutes from 57 balls with nine fours. The stand was also worth 73 and Comber had almost caught up Cull before he was bowled off the last ball of the 48th over.

Cull’s vigil, spanning 214 minutes and containing 12 fours in 162 balls, was ended when he was caught driving to mid off as the rain was falling, causing the players to leave the field.

Although an early lunch was taken play did not resume until 3.45pm, resulting in the loss of two hours and 20 minutes, although play was extended by an hour until an 8pm finish.

Upon the resumption Chris Warn went to a good catch by Adam Cragg at cover with the first innings scores level and Bury St Edmunds colleague Freddie Klokker was leg before.

Debutant Darren Batch was run out by a direct hit from cover by Cragg, who jumped into the river at the bottom end of the ground after the day’s play following a bet with his team mates!

Simon Rees was also run out thanks to a direct hit at the bowler’s end from mid-on by Coyne before Mark Nunn was bowled second ball, the ball spinning back into his stumps and dislodging a bail.

Suffolk’s advantage was wiped away by Dale, whose undefeated 75 has so far spanned 142 deliveries with ten fours, and Coyne before the latter fell to a good catch in the slips by Rees off the last ball of the 32nd over, although the umpires conferred to check the ball had carried.

Although Chris Swallow removed John Craigs for the addition of just five runs, Northumberland will feel the more satisfied with their day’s work.