CUMBERLAND’S defence of the Minor Counties Championship, which they won at Carlisle last September,started in disappointment as they suffered defeat by 41 runs against Suffolk at the same venue .

Six months on from the devastating effects of Storm Desmond, Cumberland returned to Edenside under a hot summer’s sun, the beautiful ground a picture and a tribute to the hard-working Carlisle CC officials who refused to bow to the forces of nature.

Inevitably, after being at one stage under 16 feet of water, the pitch was a slow turner and the game developed into a shoot-out between Cumberland’s star slow left-armer Toby Bulcock and experienced Suffolk captain Tom Huggins’ off-spin.

Both bowlers captured 10 wickets in a low scoring match, with Huggins using all his know-how to conjure a victory for his side, as Cumberland set out on an unavailing chase of 208 on the third day.

Suffolk were the last team to beat Cumberland in the Championship, Huggins instrumental in their win by 110 runs at Sedbergh in August 2013. after a run of 10 wins and three draws in the 13 games they have played since, Gary Pratt’s side again suffered at his hands.

Huggins captured six wickets for 61 runs in 31.2 overs as he bowled unchanged from the River Eden end, as Cumberland were bowled out for 166 just before 4pm on the third of three sweltering and humid days.

Barrow CC product Jon Miles made Cumberland’s top score of 48 before holing out at mid-off to Tom Rash, who supported his captain to take two important wickets.

Mark Nunn also captured four wickets in the game so it was far from a one-man show. Suffolk grafted their way to 209 on the first day, Jed Cawkwell top-scoring with a disciplined 71 off 143 balls in the middle order on debut as Bulcock captured 4 for 85 from a marathon stint of 36.3 overs.

The experienced Will Purser bowled superbly on his championship debut for the county, taking 2 for 50 from 22 overs while Michael Slack, on his home ground, showed the benefits of his winter in New Zealand to return 2 for 39 from 17 overs as first change.

Chris Hodgson conjured up the vital wicket of the obdurate Huggins for 42.

Cumberland struggled in reply, slumping to 16 for three and ended the first day 93 for six after Pratt (27) and Slack (27) fell in the space of four balls just before the close.

Matt Walker (23) and Liam Parkinson (18) helped them to 144, conceding a vital first innings lead of 65 as Huggins took four for 31 from 14 overs.

Suffolk’s second innings was a tortuous affair as Bulcock applied a stranglehold, supported by Purser and Slack. After being 64 for 6, a seventh-wicket stand of 69 between Ben Reece and Rash in 30 overs ultimately proved decisive.

When thunder and lightning brought a premature close soon after tea, Suffolk were 133 for eight, a lead of 198. Bulcock and Slack quickly captured the final two wickets after play began at 10.30am on day three, setting Cumberland a target that should have been well within their compass, only for Huggins to have other ideas.

Huggins took match figures of 10 for 92 and scored 54 runs; Bulcock captured 10 for 131, took two catches, affected a run out and scored 25 runs. Two outstanding cricketers on a historic cricket ground where he biggest triumph was actually playing cricket at all.

Cumberland aim to reach the semi-finals of the Unicorns Trophy this Sunday when they host Devon at Furness CC (11am start).

Result: Suffolk 209 (J Cawkwell 71, T Bulcock 4-85) and 142 (B Reece 40, T Bulcock 6-46) defeated Cumberland 144 (TB Huggins 4-31) and 166 (JWR Miles 48, TB Huggins 6-61) by 41 runs. Suffolk 21pts, Cumberland 4pts.