Suffolk completed a terrific 10-wicket victory over Northumberland during the morning session of today’s third day, to kick-start their Minor Counties Championship campaign.

Having been denied an almost certain victory in their opening Championship fixture of the summer, due to a last-day wash-out against Buckinghamshire, history was never likely to repeat itself at a dry and hot South Northumberland.

The hosts had begun the final day with just two second innings wickets in hand, while still trailing Suffolk by 45 runs on 227 for eight.

Northumberland did at least force their visitors to bat again, and so avoid the ignominy of an innings defeat, although Suffolk needed just one ball to knock off the required runs.

The home side were bowled out for 272, having added 45 to their overnight total to therefore require Suffolk to return to the wicket to secure the one run needed for victory.

Opener Martyn Cull hit Matthew Whaley’s first ball for a boundary to wrap up a deserved victory, Suffolk having completely dominated this fixture from the first ball to the last.

Earlier, opening batsman Whaley, who had begun the day 92 not out, completed his century before he was dismissed by Sudbury’s Ben Reece for 113.

Reece finished with figures of 24-4-36-3, while Whaley’s 113 spanned 279 balls and featured 20 boundaries.

The innings was ended by Copdock & Old Ipswichian captain Tom Rash, who dismissed No.11 Ben Quirk caught-and-bowled for 7, leaving Oliver McGee marooned on 29 not out.

There were so many highlights for Suffolk in this game, not least the 147-run opening partnership on day one between Jaik Mickleburgh (218 not out) and Cull (63), followed by Rash’s swift half-century, and then Michael Comber’s superb seven for 59 to demolish Northumberland in their first innings.