Norfolk look to be on course for victory in the final match of this year's Festival of Cricket.

Three Horsford bowlers made full use of their home advantage at Manor Park yesterday to put their side firmly in control of the Minor Counties Championship game against Suffolk, with just six wickets needed today to secure an overdue win.

Ben France, Ryan Findlay and Chris Brown accounted for all the wickets on day two to reduce Suffolk to 161 all out in their first innings – and then 99-4 in their second.

France was the star of the show in the first innings with six wickets for 33 in 17 overs, with Findlay taking three wickets and skipper Brown taking the final scalp as he regains form and fitness after a calf injury.

Norfolk then helped themselves to a further 165 runs to declare when they were 396 in front, with James Spelman falling for 88 in the 27th over.

They then picked up four more Suffolk wickets before the close of play to leave the visitors struggling on 99-4, with Brown taking three wickets late on.

His penultimate wicket of the day was the 39-year-old's 400th wicket in the Minor Counties Championship, with all but 26 of them having come for Norfolk.

The first day had seen Norfolk make a strong start, with Sam Arthurton scoring his second century in two matches with a knock of 113.

Half centuries from France, Lewis Denmark and Stephen Gray then helped the home side to reach 392 for six in their 90 overs.

Suffolk openers Tom Huggins and Nathan Poole survived 20 overs at the end of day one and continued to keep the match in the balance at the start of day two, building an 103-run partnership.

But then three wickets fell in three overs, Findlay having Poole caught by Peter Lambert for 51 and France combining with wicketkeeper Gray to remove Huggins for 41.

From then on wickets fell steadily, including two in three balls for France, as Suffolk collapsed to 161.