Suffolk will be bidding to bounce back from defeat at Buckinghamshire to keep alive their chances of qualifying for the quarter-finals of this season’s Unicorns Trophy.

The eight-wicket loss at Tring Park a fortnight ago was a bitter disappointment following on from the fine 105-run victory over Wiltshire a week earlier.

Suffolk face Bedfordshire in their final 50 overs-a-side Group 4 fixture at Woolpit on Sunday, start 11am, knowing a win may see them through to the last eight on run-rate.

Skipper Adam Mansfield said: “It was a tough game at Bucks. We lost the toss and were put in on a bowler-friendly surface. We didn’t adapt to the conditions quickly enough.

“A total of 160 was a good score considering our start. Ben Shepperson played a super knock, but apart from Matt Salisbury, we didn’t put the ball in the right areas and dropped a number of chances.”

Shepperson contributed 81 off only 70 balls with nine fours. The next highest score in the Suffolk innings was just 16.

Mansfield continued: “Obviously we were very disappointed after the way we played against Wiltshire. Personally, I have been happy with the cricket we’ve played so far this season.

“However, we weren’t good enough against Bucks and deserved to lose. There are no excuses from us and we’re hoping to put in a better performance against Beds.

“It’s possible all five teams could finish on two wins and two losses, so it would go down to net run-rate. All we can do is put in a good performance and what will be, will be.

“A few of us, myself included, need to take some responsibility and repay the faith coach Any Northcote has put in us.”

Suffolk sit third in the table on the same number of points as Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire. If Suffolk beat Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire defeat Hertfordshire, all five teams will finish on five points.

Suffolk squad: Jaik Mickleburgh, Martyn Cull, Darren Batch, Ben Shepperson, Michael Comber, Tom Rash, Jake Wakelin, Adam Mansfield (wkt & capt), Matt Salisbury, Matt Wareing, Ben Parker and Dominic Manthorpe.