Ben Shepperson and captain Adam Mansfield both made useful contributions with the bat as Suffolk gave themselves a chance of victory following day two of their Minor Counties Championship match, against Bedfordshire at Flitwick today.

Replying to Bedfordshire’s first innings total of 226 all out, Suffolk built up a slender lead of 39 after being bowled out for 265, undone by slow left-armer Tom Brett’s wonderful eight-wicket haul.

The hosts had reached 205 for six in their second innings by the close, a lead of 166 with four wickets in hand.

It is therefore all set up for an intriguing final day tomorrow.

Hugo Douglas had been the Suffolk star with the ball on day one, taking six for 39 off 13 overs.

With the bat, it was Mildenhall’s Shepperson and Sudbury’s Mansfield who top-scored, after Suffolk had resumed on 94 for four with Shepperson and Douglas at the crease.

Shepperson made 48 off 59 balls, with a six and three fours, when he was the fifth wicket to fall with the score on 147, one of Brett’s eight wickets. The former Northamptonshire bowler ended with outstanding figures of 36-11-87-8.

The visitors looked in danger of incurring a first innings deficit, when being quickly reduced to 174 for eight, but Mansfield and James Poulson then added a vital 69 for the ninth wicket.

Wicketkeeper Mansfield was eventually dismissed for 40, accrued off 35 balls and featuring a six and five fours. By that time, Suffolk had inched their way into the lead.

Poulson was the last wicket to fall, trapped leg before, inevitably by Brett, for 36.

Bedfordshire lost opener Luke Thomas with just three on the board, caught by Rash off Poulson, but a 68-run stand between Ben Howgego (48) and Eliot Callis (90 not out) ensured that this game would be evenly poised going into the final day.

Rash and Jake Wakelin took two wickets apiece to peg back the home side in the evening session.

Copdock & Old Ipswichian captain Rash had good figures of two for 29, off 12 overs, while Wakelin and Darren Ironside (one for 49) made inroads into the middle order.