CRICKET: Ipswich and East Suffolk clinched the Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Championship Second Division title at the weekend, but it is anybody's guess who will join them in Division One next year.

CRICKET

IPSWICH and East Suffolk clinched the Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Championship Second Division title at the weekend, but it is anybody's guess who will join them in Division One next year.

The winners of the game between Easton and Coggeshall this Saturday will accompany them. Both are locked on an average of 16.00.

In the First Division, Tattingstone lost their chance of confirming the title by losing at Browns - and they and Sudbury will fight the championship out this Saturday.

If Sudbury beat Halstead at Star Stile and get 20points and Tattingstone lose, then Sudbury will be champions. Tattingstone need to win at home to Exning to take the title and 12 points is their target. If they tied, they would just pip Sudbury.

At the bottom, the situation is similar. If Browns lose to Copdock and Bury II beat Braintree then Browns will go down with Braintree – assuming two are relegated.

The difference here is that Bury have had three void games to Browns' one and with their Premier League side safe they could strengthen their Division One side to make sure of beating Braintree.

Long-time leaders Tattingstone would have been home and dry if they had won against Browns – but they went down by 26 runs.

That provided a chink of light for Sudbury and they took full advantage with a 68-run win.

A solid partnership between Joe Lander (75) and Brendan Meagher (45) set up Browns total of 175 for nine. Then Charlie Sadler, who has had a prolific season with the ball, picked up another five wickets to help dismiss Tattingstone for 149.

Browns captain Martyn Kidd said: "This year has been crazy. We have won six games, including Tattingstone, Copdock and Exning, but we're still not safe. If we beat Copdock on Saturday we have a good chance of staying up."

Simon Steel took seven for 19 to destroy Bury II for 94, and Halstead's seven-wicket win secured their mid-table position. Bury could still escape with victory at Braintree on Saturday.

Ipswich & ES have only lost one game in Division Two, and they made no mistake at home to relegation-bound Witham.

Derek Bloomfield's half-century boosted them to a total of 146 for nine and then Mark Smith snapped up six for 29 to skittle the visitors for 74.

Coggeshall slipped up badly at Lakenheath which allowed Easton to move into second place after their nine-wicket win over Frinton.

Sean Carlisle (four for 31) led a mean Easton attack which did not allow Frinton much freedom as they were held to 138 for eight. Then Nigel Rackham's unbeaten 72 saw Easton home, at first in partnership with Jolyon Kimmerling (33) and then with Carlisle (23 not out).

St Margaret's scored a 19-run win at Brockley which could ensure their survival.