Rash star in Suffolk's victory

Mildenhall skipper Tom Rash played a leading role as Suffolk enjoyed an emphatic 163-run victory over Bedfordshire at Bury St Edmunds in the Unicorns Championship, writes Nick Garnham.

Rash top-scored with 59 and, together with Bury all-rounder Josh Cantrell, who struck an undefeated 43, rescued the home team from 154-7 in their first innings on Sunday.

The pair put on 84 for the eighth wicket as Suffolk recovered to post 291 all out, before Rash recorded career-best bowling figures for the county of 15-4-38-6 as the visitors were dismissed for just 105.

Suffolk decided against enforcing the follow-on, and racked up 320-3 declared in their second innings.

Former Essex batsman Jaik Mickleburgh made an unbeaten 173 off 220 balls, with Kyran Young notching his maiden half-century for Suffolk in a second-wicket stand of 137.

Mildenhall’s Ben Shepperson then hit 58 off 43 deliveries with six fours and three sixes and added 114 for the fourth wicket with Mickleburgh.

Bedfordshire, set an improbable 507 to win, entered the final day on Tuesday on 41 for 2, and at 84 for 5 before lunch looked as though they would not fare much better with the bat second time around.

However, skipper Andy Reynoldson made a patient 70 from 181 balls and featured in a sixth-wicket alliance of 161 with Drew Brierly, before Sudbury’s Adam Mansfield took the third of his four catches in the match behind the stumps.

Bedfordshire took the game into the last hour before Rash claimed his second wicket of the innings to clinch victory for Suffolk, leaving Brierly undefeated on 152 accrued from 267 balls in his side’s 343 all out.

* For reaction from Rash, see this week's print editions of the Bury Free Press, Newmarket Journal and Suffolk Free Press.