SUFFOLK suffered a four-wicket loss despite centuries from Tom Huggins and debutant John Sadler in their opening Minor Counties KO Trophy group game against Berkshire yesterday.

Berkshire successfully chased down their target with 10 balls to spare as the bowlers on both sides played second fiddle to the batsmen at the scenic Henley ground.

Suffolk, who won the toss and chose to bat, posted a competitive total of 328 for five in their allotted 50 overs of a competition they won for the first time in 2008.

Their innings was built around a second-wicket stand of 216 from 257 balls between Huggins (110) and Sadler (140) after they came together in the fourth over when Ben France was caught at the wicket.

Huggins was eventually out in the 45th over, falling leg before to former England off-spinner Shaun Udal, who has joined Berkshire following his retirement from the first-class game last season. His innings spanned 135 balls and contained 12 fours and a six.

Martyn Cull followed almost immediately for just a single, Udal snapping up a return catch, before Chris Warn and Sadler both perished caught at long-on. Sadler, the former Yorkshire, Leicestershire and Derbyshire all-rounder, had faced 134 deliveries laced with 16 fours and four sixes.

Chris Swallow chipped in with a breezy 30 off 12 deliveries (four fours and two sixes) before Berkshire set off in pursuit of what was perceived as a total they could successfully chase – and so it proved, with the hosts putting together a series of solid stands.

Michael Roberts and David Barnes set them on their way with an opening partnership of 86, Swallow providing the breakthrough in the 12th over when he had Barnes caught behind.

Berkshire were 137 for one at the mid-point of their reply as Roberts and Danny Shivlock added 62 in 15 overs before the latter top-edged off-spinner James Finch and Suffolk skipper Justin Bishop took a running catch behind square leg.

Ex-Derbyshire and Leicestershire all-rounder Carl Crowe scored 40 off 37 balls in a third-wicket alliance of 80 with Roberts before falling to a juggling catch at long on by Sasha Ward.

Roberts, whose 136 came off 125 balls with 16 fours and two sixes, was eventually dismissed in the 42nd over with 58 still required when he holed out to Essex bowler Max Osborne, who was making his debut for Suffolk, on the mid-wicket boundary.

Osborne also caught Craig Crowe and Finch claimed his third wicket as Udal was caught at deep long-off, after making 31 off 18 balls as Berkshire’s acceleration, which saw 116 runs come in eight overs, saw them reach their target.

Henley scoreboard

At Henley: Berkshire won by 4 wkts.

Suffolk: T Huggins lbw b Udal 110, B France c Hutcheson b Slacher 10, J Sadler c Roberts b Wheeler 140, M Cull c & b Udal 1,

C Warn c Mordt b Wheeler 8, C Swallow not out 30, J Bishop not out 5, Extras 24. Total (for 5 wkt, 50 overs) 328.

Did not bat: S Ward, M Osborne, P Edwards, J Finch.

Fall: 1-26, 2-242, 3-244, 4-255, 5-289.

Bowling: Wheeler 8-1-82-2; Slacher 5-0-44-1; CD Crowe 10-0-66-0; Mordt 8-0-42-0; Udal 10-0-41-2; Morris 9-0-48-0.

Berkshire: M Roberts c Osborne b Swallow 136, D Barnes c Warn b Swallow 30, D Shivlock c Bishop b Finch 29, CD Crowe c Ward b Sadler 40, S Udal c Sadler b Finch 31, CP Crowe c Osborne b Finch 14, B Mordt not out 13, J Morris not out 11. Extras 26. Total (for 6 wkts, 48.2 overs) 330.

Did not bat: T Hutcheson, I Slacher, S Wheeler.

Fall: 1-86, 2-148, 3-228, 4-271, 5-303, 6-313.

Bowling: Edwards 5-0-39-0; Osborne 4-1-35-0; Swallow 7.2-0-44-2; France 5-0-43-0; Finch 10-0-54-3; Huggins 10-0-60-0; Sadler 6-0-40-1; Bishop 1-0-8-0.