Suffolk took seven wickets during the evening session to give themselves a big advantage at the end of the first day of their Minor Counties Championship match against Bedfordshire, staged at the Victory Ground, Bury St Edmunds today.

After captain Adam Mansfield had won the toss and elected to bat, Suffolk stumbled along to 154 for seven until their last three wickets put on a valuable 137 to boost the final total to 291 all out.

In reply, Bedfordshire lost three quick wickets to leave them on 15 for three, and they were to lose four more wickets before the close to be reduced to 65 for seven off 24 overs, a deficit of 226 going into tomorrow’s second day.

Earlier, no Suffolk front-line Suffolk batsman was able to get on top of the bowling, along Darren Ironside (47) and Ben Shepperson (33) put on 72 for the fourth wicket.

Ironside faced 90 balls during his responsible knock, while Mildenhall stalwart Shepperson hit two sixes in his 50-ball stay, before both men became victims of Mohammad Younas Ahmadzai.

Mildenhall team-mate Tom Rash top-scored with 59 at No. 7, the former Copdock & Ipswichian skipper striking nine boundaries.

He received good support from Josh Cantrell, who finished unbeaten on a patient 43, having put on 52 for the ninth wicket with the aggressive Jake Foley, who hit seven fours and a six in a brisk 44, off just 29 balls.

In reply, Michael Comber removed both openers, while Rash bowled Drew Brierly, to leave the visitors on 15 for three. Kyron Young dismissed skipper Andy Reynoldson (15), and Rash picked up his second and third wickets before Jack Beaumont’s one over also yielded a wicket to put Suffolk in the driving seat going into tomorrow’s second day.