BURY St Edmunds earned braggings rights over Essex neighbours Clacton thanks to a six-wicket win in the Gibbs Denley East Anglian Premier League on Saturday.

After Clacton won the toss Tom Robotham ran out their in-form opener George Brown with a direct throw from long off and Simon Rees held an excellent slip catch to remove Ben France.

After coming into the attack at 55 for four, Abhi Jhunjhunwala wreaked havoc among Clacton’s batsmen to claim figures of 11.3-2-39-5 as the Essex side were dismissed for 142.

Jhunjhunwala then shared a third-wicket stand of 46 with Simon Rees, but when he departed 41 with the total on 92 for four the match was in the balance.

However, skipper Justin Bishop successfully mixed caution with aggression and saw Bury safely home with an undefeated 50 off 60 deliveries, reaching his own half century and their victory target with successive fours.

The visitors wrapped up the win a ball shy of 30 overs, and appear to have banished any lingering relegation worries after a sluggish start to the season.

Off spinner John East also claimed a five-wicket haul as Copdock & Old Ipswichian leapt two places into second spot thanks to a five-wicket win at home to Great Witchingham.

East returned figures of 14.3-0-59-5 as Great Witchingham slipped from 75 for one to 171 all out at Old London Road, but then hit back to leave their hosts 16 for three.

However, Martyn Cull and Adrian Nel shared a stand of 70 before Nel fell after completing his half-century.

Jed Cawkwell (18 off 20 balls) and Christi Viljoen (27 off 19 balls) combined with Cull, who dug in for an undefeated 55 from 139 deliveries, to see them home.

Sudbury were unable to do Copdock a favour as they lost by eight wickets at leaders Swardeston.

Matthew Taylor took five for 41 as the Suffolk side were back in the pavilion for 131, and although they dismissed both openers with just 12 runs on the board, Stephen Gray (52 not out) and Michael Parlane (71 not out) ensured Swardeston’s victory.

Halstead remain rooted to the foot of the table, after their scheduled home match against Cambridge Granta was abandoned without a ball being bowled due to waterlogging on low lying areas of the outfield at Star Stile.

Gibbs Denley East Anglian Premier League

Burwell 228 for 6 in 56 overs (W Lawton 84, K Toner 50, G Goosen 37, G Batticciotto 3 for 42). *Saffron Walden 205 for 9 in 47 overs (A Laws 64, S Parmenter 59, J Barrs 20, J Vowden 4 for 27, K Toner 3 for 67). Saffron Walden (9pts) drew with Burwell (15pts).

*Clacton 142 in 41.3 overs (M Comber 45, I Sheikh 23, A Jhunjhunwala 5 for 39). Bury St Edmunds 144 for 4 in 29.5 overs (J Bishop 50no, A Jhunjhunwala41, S Rees 20). Bury St Edmunds (25pts) bt Clacton (2pts) by 6 wkts.

Great Witchingham 171 in 52.3 overs (W Lonsdale 39, C Rogers 36, J Spelman 23, John East 5 for 59). *Copdock & Old Ipswichian 173 for 5 in 43.2 overs (M Cull 55no, A Nel 50, C Viljoen 27no). Copdock & Old Ipswichian (25pts) bt Great Witchingham (4pts) by 5 wkts.

Halstead v Cambridge Granta - match abandoned without a ball being bowled, both sides receive 7 points.

Sudbury 131 all out in 48 overs (J Phillips 25, H Fernando 22, M Taylor 5 for 41, G Walker 3 for 23). Swardeston 136 for 2 in 27.3 overs (M Parlane 71no, S Gray 52no). Swardeston (25pts) beat Sudbury (1pt) by 8 wkts.

Vauxhall Mallards 211 for 7 in 66 overs (M Plater 110, P Bradshaw 23no, C Brown 4 for 51). *Horsford 121 for 7 in 57 overs (C Sabburg 47, T Brice 3 for 30). Horsford (6pts) drew with Vauxhall Mallards (10pts).

*Denotes home team