Bury battling to be best of the rest

A convincing win away to lowly Burwell improved their chances of passing defending champions Cambridge Granta to do so.

Justin Bishop’s third EAPL century of the season was the highlight of a Bury total of 315 for six declared in 63 overs. Bishop had been dropped from a straightforward chance and made the home team pay for the mistake.

Good support came from Simon Rees (53 not out) and the innings was given a final flourish by some brutal hitting from Mark Nunn (37 not out from 20 balls faced, including three sixes).

Phil Edwards (three for 13) and Chris Wright (three for 27), aided by three slip catches by Tom Huggins, reduced Burwell to 40 for six after only 17 overs and it looked likely that there would be a very early finish. But as the ball lost its shine and hardness the later Burwell batsmen found life easier.

Bury kept attacking fields and consequently conceded several extra boundaries. Mark Nunn (three for 80) suffered most but persevered to claim the final wicket as Bury ran out clear winners by 119 runs.

There was an exciting finish at Clacton where the scores finished level with visitors Vauxhall Mallards six wickets down.

Ben France (32), George Brown (31) and Stefanus Gericke (38) had to work hard as Clacton reached 151 for seven from 51 overs.

In reply Clacton claimed a wicket without a run on the board, then David Turner (48) and Richard Goodenough (51) added 100. Gerrie Snyman scored 33, but France (three for 41) and Gericke (three for 40), both from 14 overs, just did enough to avoid defeat.

Halstead successfully defended 164 (Mark Johnson 48 not out) as Tom Philp (four for 44) and Matt Spatcher (three for 26) combined to dismiss visitors Horsford for 100.

Sudbury’s 180 (Wimanga Perera 59) was not enough against Swardeston, however, as Richard Sims scored an unbeaten 122 to carry the home team to a comfortable eight-wicket win.

Gibbs Denley East Anglian Premier League

Bury St Edmunds 315 for 6 (63 overs: J Bishop 126, S Rees 53no, S Harvey 45, M Nunn 37no, T Huggins 29, T Afzal 3 for 71, F Bester 3 for 98). *Burwell 196 (40.5 overs: J Vowden 46no, M Bissett 35, A Huckle 35, T Afzal 20, P Edwards 3 for 13, C Wright 3 for 27, M Nunn 3 for 80). Bury St Edmunds (30pts) beat Burwell (5) by 119 runs.

*Clacton 151 for 7 (51 overs: S Gericke 38, B France 32, G Brown 31, G Snyman 4 for 21). Vauxhall Mallards 151 for 6 (42 overs: R Goodenough 51, D Turner 48, G Snyman 33, S Gericke 3 for 40, B France 3 for 41). Clacton (8) drew with Vauxhall Mallards (7).

*Halstead 164 (64.3 overs: M Johnson 48no, M Spatcher 37, C Brown 5 for 17, R O’Connell 4 for 44). Horsford 100 (45.3 overs: R O’Connell 26, D Clark 24, T Philp 4 for 44, M Spatcher 3 for 26). Halstead (30) bt Horsford (5) by 64 runs.

Saffron Walden 222 for 8 (66 overs: J Gallian 81). *Great Witchingham 195 for 9 (54 overs: T Collishaw 70). Gt Witchingham (9) drew with Saffron Walden (13).

Cambridge Granta 308 for 9 (65 overs: C Park 69, A Fullarton 68, D Rice 65, S Park 53no, AA Watson 4 for 69). *Norwich 100 (39.3 overs: J Coleman 5 for 14). Cambridge Granta (30) beat Norwich (4) by 208 runs.

Sudbury 180 (63.2 overs: W Perera 59, P Siegert 23, J Phillips 20, S Thelwell 4 for 33, J Hatwell 3 for 49). *Swardeston 181 for 2 (31.4 overs: R.Sims 122no, J Hatwell 32no, D Martin 23). Swardeston (25) bt Sudbury (3) by 8 wkts.