Suffolk unable to force a victory

DESPITE trying to force victory on the final day, Suffolk had to settle for a draw versus Staffordshire in their NCCA Cluberly Championship match at Copdock.

Suffolk declared their second innings on Tuesday afternoon on 306 for 6, leaving the visitors to score 260 in 33 overs for victory in the Eastern Division One clash.

Although they raced to 85 for 1 with only eight overs bowled, Suffolk stemmed the flow of runs and crucially claimed wickets so that Staffordshire were pegged back to 129 for 5 with 16 overs remaining.

It was at that point Staffordshire gave up the chase, although wicket-keeper Callum Hawkins completed his maiden Championship century and Freddie Heldreich claimed 3 for 36 before the two teams shook hands on a draw.

It was a fair outcome at the end of three hard-fought days, which started with Suffolk winning the toss before slipping to 18 for 2 inside four overs.

They recovered largely thanks to captain Jack Beaumont’s splendid 154 – his highest score and second century for the county a year after his first on the same ground.

Ishaan Rakesh, batting at No.8 on debut, arrived at the crease with Suffolk precariously placed on 202 for 6 and batted with maturity beyond his near 17 years, scoring 69 off 77 deliveries to push his side to 338 for 9 off their 90 overs.

It looked likely Suffolk would establish a small first-innings lead as Staffordshire slipped to 272 for 7, after at one stage being 111 for 0. Enter Liam Hurt to plunder 10 sixes in a brutal 40-ball knock of 81 to bolster their reply to 385 for 9, George Rhodes taking 3 for 66.

At the end of day two and start of day three Suffolk’s top order again had to work hard for their runs, with Beaumont (39), Rhodes (43) and Kieran Pell (27) all making good contributions.

However, the innings was underpinned by Ollie Burle’s steadfast 96 not out off 245 balls, the left-hander adding 86 for the sixth wicket with Heldreich, who made his maiden 50 for the county.

Burle was denied a richly-deserved first Championship century by the declaration after withstanding everything Staffordshire threw at him in his 345-minute occupation of the crease.

Skipper Beaumont (pictured batting above) said afterwards: “I can’t see a way we could have forced it a little bit more. I think we gave it everything.

“We opened the door slightly for a win for them which I think did draw out a few wickets in the last innings, but I am pretty happy with the boys’ efforts over the last three days.”

Suffolk play their fourth and final Championship match of the campaign versus Lincolnshire at Cleethorpes, starting on Sunday, knowing a win should be sufficient to keep them up.

Scorecard

Tags: Copdock & Old Ipswichian CC, Ishaan Rakesh, Jack Beaumont, NCCA Cluberly Championship, Ollie Burle, Staffordshire

Categorised in: Suffolk CCC