A half century from skipper Chris Brown helped Norfolk to a respectable total on the opening day of their Minor Counties Championship clash with Suffolk at Copdock.
After winning the toss and opting to bat first Brown saw his slide slip from 83 for one to 123 for five as the home bowlers turned the screw.
But fortunately for Norfolk plenty of runs were scored down the order to help them reach 270 all out, with the captain leading from the front.
It was a decent effort from the visitors, although Suffolk will feel they had marginally the better of the opening day after reaching 79 without loss at the close.
After the early loss of Jordan Taylor familiar partners James Spelman and Sam Arthurton got Norfolk moving in the right direction with a second wicket stand of 65.
Both then went in quick succession, Arthurton for 27 and Spelman for 54 – and Garry Park and Ben France were also dismissed cheaply before Matthew Warnes and Brett Stolworthy steadied the ship with a sixth wicket stand of 37. When Warnes went for 24 Stolworthy was joined by Brown and the pair added 74 more at decent rate, with Stolworthy's 36 including four boundaries and Brown's 52 nine. By the time Brown went Norfolk had reached 248 and some determined batting from the tail added a further 22 before Sam Groves was bowled by Ben Reece for 18.
Suffolk openers Tom Huggins and Nathan Poole safely negotiated 21 overs in reply, with Ben France going for less than two an over in his seven overs. Paceman Adam Todd conceded 27 runs from five overs on his debut.
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