East Anglian Premier League cricketREIGNING champions Bury St Edmunds suffered their first defeat of the season in the Gibbs Denley East Anglian Premier League at the Victory Ground earlier this month.

East Anglian Premier League cricket

REIGNING champions Bury St Edmunds suffered their first defeat of the season in the Gibbs Denley East Anglian Premier League at the Victory Ground earlier this month.

Bury, who had won three, drawn one and had one game cancelled out of their first five matches, slipped to a surprise three-wicket home defeat against Fakenham.

The hosts made a poor start when Nick Lee was dismissed without scoring before Bury crashed to 79 for nine.

Only a 41-run 10th-wicket partnership between Andrew Tweedie (37 not out) and Kevin Brooks (18) pushed the Bury total into three figures. Only two other players - Craig Estlea (18) and Chris Warn (17) - reached double figures.

Despite the best efforts of Bury bowler Paul Grayson, who had figures of five for 20, Fakenham reached their target of 121 after 45 overs to move up to third in the table.

This result meant Bury went down to second as Swardeston claimed top spot following a four-wicket success at home against Mildenhall.

The Suffolk side lost opener Richard Ford for nought but 77 from Peter Worthington and further contributions from Jonathan Woods (39 not out) and Frantzwa Bester (35) set Swardeston a total of 200 to win.

Mildenhall looked to be heading towards their first league victory of the campaign when they reduced Swardeston to 22 for two.

But Richard Sims (74), Rob Newton (44 not out) and Jaden Hatwell (41) guided the Norfolk outfit to victory in the 52nd over.

Clacton still remain without a win but secured their third draw at Vauxhall Mallards.

Indika De Saram, who scored 118 in Clacton's last action three weeks ago against Godmanchester, continued his fine personal start to the campaign with an innings of 179.

The score, which is the highest individual total made by any player in the league this season, helped Clacton register a challenging score of 293 for nine.

South African Derrin Bassage top-scored for Vauxhall Mallards with 115 but Clacton were on the brink of victory as the hosts fell to 253 for nine.

However, Clacton could not get the final wicket despite using a total of eight different bowlers as Vauxhall Mallards clung on for a draw.

Elsewhere, Grant Flower (166 not out) and Chris Brown (six for 31) inspired Horsford to an easy 176-run triumph against Godmanchester Town while five wickets from Jason Coleman helped Cambridge Granta to a six-wicket victory against Norwich.

This week Bury travel to Cambridge Granta with Clacton and Mildenhall both at home, against Swardeston and Horsford respectively.