SUFFOLK are in control of their own destiny as they enter tomorrow’s final round of matches in this season’s Minor Counties Championship.

Suffolk sit on top of the Eastern Division with a five-point lead over Lincolnshire, who play third-placed Bedfordshire in their final match at Grantham while Suffolk face Cumberland at Sedbergh School (start 11am).

Kevin Brooks, Suffolk’s director of cricket, said yesterday: “We are where we want to be going into our last game. Our aim at the start of every season is to be going into the last round of matches with a chance of winning the championship, and we have achieved that.

“We have still got a lot of work to do if we want to win the championship as there are only five points between us and Lincolnshire, which is not a substantial lead, although it is nice to have a lead.”

Opponents Cumberland, who are currently fourth, trail Suffolk by 13 points and so still have a chance of winning the division if they defeat Suffolk and other results go their way.

Brook said: “Cumberland have had a decent season, even though they had one game rained off against Cambridgeshire without a ball being bowled, so they will feel they have an outside chance of winning the championship.

“Potentially it should be a good, open match, but we need a disciplined performance over the three days with both bat and ball. We need 20 points from our match to be certain of winning the title, and that will be our priority.

“If we achieve that it will not matter what happens in the match between Lincolnshire and Bedfordshire. They will both be going into it looking to win, but if we win it will take care of everything.

“There is a lot of experience in our squad with eight capped players, and we hope the preparations we go through from January onwards through pre-season set ourselves up for matches like this and everyone is looking forward to it.”

Chris Swallow, who got married last week, is on honeymoon, while Essex duo Michael Comber and Tony Palladino are unable to be released as they are required by the county.

Into the squad come experienced batsmen Andrew Mawson, who used to play for Cumberland, and Nick Lee, who has yet to appear in the championship this season due to his commitments with Sussex, while James Finch and Paul King both return after being unavailable for last week’s draw against Northumberland at Mildenhall.

Suffolk squad: T Huggins (capt), B France, M Cull, H Adnan, A Mawson, N Lee, C Warn (wkt), S Rees, J Finch, P King, M Nunn, D Batch.