Suffolk produced a dominant display, with bat and ball, to sit firmly in the driving seat going into today’s final day of their opening Minor Counties Championship match of the season, away against Bedfordshire at Luton.

Michael Comber struck a century, with good support coming from Justin Bishop, Josh Daley and Tom Rash, as the visitors posted a total of 305 for five declared in their first innings.

That gave Suffolk a lead of 57, and Daley then made early inroads into Bedfordshire’s second innings as the hosts ended on 113 for four, a slender lead of 56 with six wickets in hand.

Resuming on their overnight 63 for no wicket, Suffolk recovered from the early losses of opener Tom Huggins (24) and Martyn Cull (0), thanks to a third wicket partnership of 79 between Bishop and Davey.

Bishop compiled a very patient 63, off 158 balls with just four boundaries, before the Suffolk skipper’s three-hour stay at the wicket was ended by Bedfordshire’s own captain Andy Reynoldson.

That left the score on 148 for three, and just one run had been added when former Bury St Edmunds all-rounder Davey, enjoying his Minor Counties Championship debut for Suffolk, was also back in the pavilion.

Davey was stumped by wicketkeeper Greg Hofbauer for 43, giving Reynoldson his fourth wicket – Reynoldson had scored an unbeaten 90 in Bedfordshire’s total of 248 on day one.

Davey scored at a rate of one run every two balls, with seven boundaries, but it was left to Comber to step up a gear with a marvellous century.

In harness with Rash, the hard-hitting Comber put on a superb 151 for the fifth wicket to give Suffolk the edge.

Former Essex all-rounder Comber helped himself to four sixes and 10 boundaries in his knock of 103, achieved off just 123 deliveries, while Rash was unbeaten on 51 at the end of Suffolk’s 90 overs.

Davey dismissed both Tom Rowe and Sam Johnson very cheaply, to leave Bedfordshire tottering on 21 for two,

Luke Thomas (53) and George Thurstance (35) shared a third wicket stand of 86, before both falling in quick succession to Davey and Huggins respectively.

Rain brought a premature end with Bedfordshire on 113 for four, Davey having taken three for 35 off 10 overs.