SUFFOLK cricket coach Andy Brown says the county are still looking to achieve a double this season after drawing their first 2007 Minor Counties Championship fixture at Cumberland.

By Elvin King

SUFFOLK coach Andy Brown says the county are still looking to achieve a double this season after drawing their first 2007 Minor Counties Championship fixture at Cumberland.

Both sides ended with eight points - four for the draw plus four bonus points - with Suffolk needing to score 330 in their second innings to win the match.

No play was possible yesterday, and at 1.30pm the game was called off because of persistent drizzle and a wet outfield.

This is the first time for many years that Suffolk have not had a professional with Chris Schofield, Devon Malcolm, Trevor Smith, Bill Athey and Derek Randall the most recent paid players.

But despite a rather disappointing display at Cumberland, Brown is confident Suffolk can carry on their good run - not having been beaten in any competition for 21 months.

“We have Tom Huggins, Ben France and Justin Bishop, who have all played first class cricket,” said Brown.

“We are backing potential somewhat in our batting department, but we are capable of going on and winning the Championship and also the one-day Knock-Out trophy.”

Suffolk visit Oxfordshire on July 1 in the semi-final of the KO Trophy with a place at Lord's awaiting on August 27.

“It would be unfair to comment of our batting performance after one three-day innings,” added Brown.

“With Cumberland one bowler short after an overnight accident at their hotel we were confident of reaching 330 although it was a big chase.

“We had the potential to get somewhere near.

“We lack some experience in the middle order and this is something we have chatted about with Andrew Mawson unavailable for our next game at Ransomes against Staffordshire.

“Phil Edwards bowled well, Paul King was back to his best and Chris Swallow is a big performer for us these days.”

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Sedbergh School scoreboard

Cumberland (8pts) drew with Suffolk (8pts).

CUMBERLAND

First innings: 153 (Pratt 45, Edwards 5 for 546)

Second innings: 316 (Smith 104, Roberts 63, Coxon 42, Bishop 4 for 87).

SUFFOLK

First innings: 140 (Mawson 35, Williams 4 for 43)

Second innings: 26 for 0