Crucial T20 double-header for Suffolk

SUFFOLK face a crucial National Counties Cricket Association T20 double-header this weekend.

After last Sunday’s opening group game against Cambridgeshire was cancelled as the pitch at Burwell & Exning CC was not fit following the recent heavy rain, Suffolk travel to Norfolk on Sunday and then entertain Lincolnshire on Monday.

The outcome of the four fixtures at Sprowston CC and Ipswich School will determine whether Suffolk advance to the Super 12s stage of the competition.

Instead of four groups of five, five groups of four counties are contesting the season’s opening weeks aiming to qualify for the Super 12s.

Twelve teams will go through from the group stages and play in three-team mini-leagues at a single venue on Sunday, May 19, with the winner of the mini-league advancing to Finals Day at Chester Boughton Hall a week later.

Suffolk head coach Adam Mansfield said: “It was a real shame to see Sunday called off, but you can’t control the weather and we now move forward to a big weekend.

“With everyone called off last weekend, every team will be in the same boat moving forwards. With only four group games left our margin for error is smaller and we can’t afford a bad performance.

It will be Suffolk’s first visit to Sprowston CC to face old rivals Norfolk, rather than the fixture taking place at the usual venue 0f Manor Park, home of Horsford CC.

Mansfield said: “I’m not sure any of the boys have played at Sprowston before, so it’ll be a new ground for us all. Olly Williams, our analyst, will try to get as much information on the ground as possible, which will hopefully give the boys a good understanding of how the pitch/ground might play out.”

Monday’s double-header at Ipswich School will be Suffolk’s first home fixtures of the season at a venue where they traditionally do well.

“We enjoy playing at the school, it’s always a great wicket and we have performed well there over the years,” said Mansfield, who added that the squad will look very similar to the one for the Cambridgeshire fixture.

“Unfortunately, Jack Beaumont is unavailable on Monday due to work commitments, so this will offer an opportunity for someone to come in and stake a place for hopefully the next round,” he added.

Jack Beaumont, who will miss Monday’s match versus Lincolnshire at Ipswich School, is pictured above.

Tags: Adam Mansfield, Ipswich School, Jack Beaumont, Lincolnshire, NCCA T20, Norfolk, Sprowston CC

Categorised in: Suffolk CCC