Head coach Andy Northcote anticipates a ‘cracking fixture’ when his Suffolk side host Buckinghamshire in the Unicorns Trophy on Sunday, writes Nick Garnham.

A place in the quarter-finals is the prize for the winner of the first-round tie which will be played in coloured clothing and with a white ball at Ipswich School, start 11am.

Buckinghamshire breezed past Cambridgeshire in their preliminary round tie by six wickets with 23 balls of their allotted 50 overs to spare.

After losing three of their opening four T20 group games, Northcote said Sunday’s match did not carry any greater significance.

He said: “This match is no more important than any other, we focus on preparing for every game equally well and we will carry on doing so.

“We are not mathematically out of the T20 competition yet, so with strong performances over the coming three weekends, it could be that we qualify in both.”

Suffolk reached the last eight of the Unicorns Trophy last season, before losing to eventual winners Berkshire.

“It would be wonderful to reach the quarter-finals again, and hopefully progress even further. Bucks, of course, beat a strong Cambs team, so it should make for a cracking fixture at Ivry Street on Sunday.

“Bucks are a good outfit and again have selected a squad that represents their impressive history as a Minor County. We always know we are in for a challenging fixture against them, and this is no different with the prize a quarter-final spot in the Trophy.”

Bury St Edmunds all-rounder Josh Cantrell is available and selected after taking seven wickets in the East Anglian Premier League against Swardeston on Saturday, as is Jack Beaumont, whose eight wickets this season for Copdock & Old Ipswichian have cost just ten runs apiece.

Northcote said: “Their inclusion shows that performances at club level do matter and should players do well, they get included or considered.”

Michael Comber again misses out as does Jake Wakelin, although he has recovered from an ankle injury, and Jed Cawkwell.

Suffolk squad: Jaik Mickleburgh, Darren Batch, Adam Ball, Kyron Young, Josh Cantrell, Ben Shepperson, Tom Rash, Adam Mansfield (capt & wkt), James Poulson, Jack Beaumont, Jake Foley, Billy Moulton-Day.