AN inspired spell of four wickets in three overs from Martin Smith set Suffolk on their way to success against Lincolnshire in yesterday's Minor Counties KO Cup group game.

AN inspired spell of four wickets in three overs from Martin Smith set Suffolk on their way to success against Lincolnshire in yesterday's Minor Counties KO Cup group game.

Smith, whose opening spell saw him concede 36 runs in four wicketless overs, blew away the visitors' lower order as they collapsed from 184 for five to 189 all out at Woodbridge School.

The 24-year-old South African, who has just qualified for British citizenship, returned to the attack to produce a burst of 3-0-8-4 to set up a comfortable eight-wicket win.

After Lincolnshire had won the toss, opening batsman Paul Cook took advantage of some wayward deliveries as the visitors plundered 70 runs in just 35 minutes before Chris Swallow provided the breakthrough by removing Martyn Dobson for six.

Cook, whose 68 spanned 64 balls and included one six and nine fours, fell to Swallow soon after and the scoring rate slowed as Swallow and fellow spinner Chris Schofield dragged Suffolk back into the contest with some tidy bowling.

Phil Edwards, who along with Clacton skipper Smith only made his debut the previous week in the rain-ruined encounter against Norfolk, chipped in with two wickets as Suffolk made light of the absence of the injured Justin Bishop and Andrew McGarry, who was in the Essex squad for yesterday's Friends Provident Trophy match against Middlesex at Chelmsford.

Even so, there was no inkling of the dramatic collapse that was to follow, which saw Paul King remove last man Jonathan Miles with only 41.1 of the maximum 50 overs used on a wicket of variable bounce.

Although Jonathan Miles trapped Andrew Mawson leg before and also accounted for Nick Lee to leave Suffolk 53 for two in their reply, the home team assumed control.

Tom Huggins dropped anchor and along with Schofield made batting look easy as they compiled an unbroken third-wicket partnership of 137 to guide Suffolk home in just 38.5 overs.

Huggins struck 11 fours in his 112-ball knock while Schofield hit one six and ten other boundaries in his 67-ball innings.

The win puts Suffolk in a strong position to win the so-called “group of death” with two victories and one no-result following the washout against Norfolk.

Victory or one point from a no-result in their final group game away to Bedfordshire on Sunday, June 3, will see Suffolk qualify for the semi-finals for the third time in four years, and with it the chance of a first-ever final appearance at Lord's.

Even if Suffolk lose at Flitwick they could still progress on run rate.

Yesterday's comprehensive victory certainly aided their cause should the calculators be required to decide who goes through.

Woodbridge School scoreboard

Suffolk won by 8 wkts.

LINCOLNSHIRE

M Dobson c Edwards b Swallow 6

P Cook c France b Swallow 68

V Atri c Mawson b Edwards 1

M Dowman c Warn b Edwards 2

J Trower c Edwards b Schofield 14

R Cook c Swallow b Smith 35

S Webb c Warn b Smith 15

O Burford b Smith 2

S Airey not out 2

E Wilson c Swallow b Smith 0

J Miles c & b King 1

Extras 43

Total (off 41.1 overs) 189

Fall: 1-70, 2-74, 3-86, 4-115, 5-131, 6-184, 7-185, 8-188, 9-188, 10-189.

Bowling: Smith 7-0-44-4; Edwards 8-1-44-2; Swallow 10-1-42-2; Schofield

10-2-21-1; Huggins 4-0-24-0; King 2.1-0-5-1

SUFFOLK

T Huggins not out 73

A Mawson lbw b Miles 11

N Lee c Trower b Miles 20

C Schofield not out 66

Extras 20

Total (for 2 wkts, 38.5 overs) 190

Fall: 1-22, 2-53

Did not bat: B France, C Warn, C Swallow, P Caley, P Edwards, P King, M Smith.

Bowling: Wilson 9.5-1-45-0; Miles 10-2-41-2; Airey 10-3-47-0; Dowman 6-0-31-0; Dobson 3-0-21-0.