SUFFOLK have won the Minor Counties Knock-out Trophy final for the first time in their history.They defeated Cheshire by 35 runs runs at Lord's this evening.

SUFFOLK have won the Minor Counties Knock-out Trophy final for the first time in their history.

They defeated Cheshire by 35 runs runs at Lord's this evening.

After setting their opponents 220 to win, Suffolk bowled out their opponents for 184 in their reply.

Suffolk produced a very disciplined display in the field to deservedly lift the trophy - a fitting reward for captain Phil Caley in his 25th year of playing Minor Counties cricket.

Paul King, who bowled his full allocation of 10 overs unchanged for just 20 runs, made an early breakthrough, having Cheshire skipper Andrew Hall caught behind by Chris Warn.

Martin Smith then removed Danny Leech lbw to make it 18 for two, and then he struck again when he had Nathan Dumelow caught at mid off by Andrew Mawson with the total on 26.

Justin Bishop then struck a big blow when he had Ben Spendlove, who had batted well for his 49, caught by Warn one short of his half century, to leave Cheshire 84 for four.

Suffolk tightened their grip on the game when James Duffy was caught and bowled by Paul Grayson and with the next ball at the other end Bishop induced the edge of Chris Bassano's bat.

With the run rate starting to climb Suffolk looked favourites to win the trophy for the first time - and inflict Cheshire's first defeat of the season in any competition.

But Cheshire's Jason Whittaker and Matt Dawson had other ideas and held Suffolk up with a seventh wicket stand of 61.

Ben France finally provided the breakthrough, bowling Whittaker for 23, and Cheshire were 164 for seven off 45 overs - requiring 66 off the final five overs.

France dismissed Adam Syddall in his next over and the target had been reduced to 41from the final three overs by Dawson and Chris Finegan before the latter holed out to Chris Swallow running in from long on to give France his third wicket.

Dawson brought up his half century with a four off Fracne through mid-wicket, but the Suffolk all-rounder exacted his revenge when he bowled him for 51 with the next ball to clinch Suffolk's success.

Grayson, the former Essex all-rounder, had top-scored with 87 as Suffolk were all out with four balls of their 50 overs unused.

Caley won the toss and chose to bat in glorious sunshine on the county's first ever appearance at the home of cricket.

Tom Huggins (9) and Andrew Mawson (11) both fell cheaply and when France was dismissed for 24 with the score on 59 Suffolk were in a spot of bother.

Worse was to follow when Toby Hembry was run out for 10 with the total on 74 but Swallow joined Grayson and the pair began to rebuild the innings in a stand of 84.

Swallow eventually fell for 38, stumped going for a big hit, and when captain Caley was caught at the wicket in the next over for just a single - a decision he was clearly not happy about - Suffolk had slipped to 159 for six.

Chris Warn helped add 38 with Grayson before he was caught behind for seven and then Grayson was caught on the long-on boundary for a splendid 87.

Paul King was out second ball but some lusty hitting from Justin Bishop, who was last man out for 15 including one six over mid-wicket, pushed the total up to 219.