KEVIN Shaw was a big hit on his return to the Suffolk side in their one wicket defeat by Northamptonshire in the third round of the Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy at Bury St Edmunds last week.

By Elvin King

KEVIN Shaw was a big hit on his return to the Suffolk side in their one wicket defeat by Northamptonshire in the third round of the Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy at Bury St Edmunds last week.

He was named man of the match after scoring exciting runs at the end of Suffolk's innings to lift their total to 128 for nine on a difficult track. In the end it almost proved enough with first class Northants struggling to reach their target.

Although Gary Kirk and South African Andy Hall did the damage with the ball with seven wickets between them, Shaw came on at the end to claim the wicket of Russell Warren with Northants still one run short.

The Bury St Edmunds PE teacher underwent a knee operation that kept him out of action in 2001 and he had key-hole surgery this spring.

"It was a long road, but I never gave up hope of playing for Suffolk again," said Shaw, a capped player who made his debut in 1996.

"I had never played against a first class county before, and I set a target to be fit to face Northants from the time Suffolk beat Herefordshire in the C&G second round last September.

"It was touch and go, but I have played club cricket for Bury this year, and was just about back to 100 per cent in time to face Northants.

"I was delighted to be playing, but it was it an shame for the other squad members who were left out. I love playing for Suffolk, and long may it continue.

"Winning back my Suffolk place was the spur that kept me going doing the long months out injured."