Display can act as a springboard

August 2, 2022

DARREN Ironside says Suffolk’s display against Kent Spitfires can act as a springboard for the rest of the season.

Suffolk put in a spirited display against their first-class visitors in the 140-run loss in Sunday’s Showcase match at Woolpit CC.

Ironside (pictured batting above) scored an undefeated 53 off 42 balls with five fours and a six as Suffolk scored a respectable 291 for 5 in their 50 overs in reply to the Spitfires’ 431 for 7.

The all-rounder shared an unbroken sixth-wicket stand of 78 with his Mildenhall team-mate and Suffolk skipper Tom Rash, after coming together at the start of the 42nd over of the innings.

Ironside, who scored a run-a-ball 45 in Suffolk’s agonising three-wicket loss to Oxfordshire in their NCCA Trophy quarter-final exit in their last white-ball outing, was pleased with both his own and his side’s performance.

He said: “It’s nice to test yourself against professional players and it has been a good day’s cricket. Of course, it would have been nice to win, but we showed ourselves in a good light.

“I went out to try to have some fun. The game was effectively already won and lost by the time I went into bat, but we wanted to finish with a decent total, even if it was in a losing cause.

“It is always nice to score runs and I have probably been due some runs for Suffolk.”

Suffolk sit bottom of Eastern Division One after suffering heavy defeats in their opening two NCCA Championship matches to Lincolnshire by eight wickets and Norfolk by 286 runs.

They face Staffordshire and Bedfordshire both away later this month, needing to win at least one, if not both, of their remaining three-day fixtures to avoid relegation.

Ironside, who missed the Lincolnshire match through injury, said: “We have clearly not been at our best in our two Championship matches so far, but we showed we are a good side last season when we won the Eastern Division.

“We can take confidence from our display today and there is no reason why we can’t put in the performances we need to and get two wins.”

 

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