BURY St Edmunds remain rooted to the foot of the Gibbs Denley East Anglian Premier League after a thrilling finish to their match at Sudbury.

The visitors agonisingly ended three runs short of victory, and are still searching for their first win of the season.

Skipper Darren Batch top-scored with 42 from 51 balls in Sudbury’s 194 for eight, with Matt Hunn producing figures of 12-0-34-4 on his return to Friars Street.

Bury appeared on course for victory while captain Tom Huggins and Abhishek Jhunjhunwala were at the crease together.

But after Jhunjhunwala fell for 58 after adding 79 for the third wicket, Bury’s hopes rested firmly on the shoulders of Suffolk all-rounder Huggins.

After a rain break Bury were left requiring 25 off five overs and Sudbury four wickets to win.

Thirteen were needed off the last over, but Bury scored ten to leave them three runs short and Huggins undefeated on 58 off 119 deliveries.

Sudbury’s Jonny Gallagher returned figures of 13-2-52-4.

Honours also ended even between Clacton and Woolpit, for whom Craig Rutterford scored a maiden EAPL century.

His 102 came from 134 balls laced with 11 fours and a six in Woolpit’s 235 for seven and he featured in a second-wicket stand of 132 with Will Parker, who contributed 43.

Clacton’s Michael Comber followed up his 16-6-48-4 with 40 as Clacton closed on 190 for seven.

Australian Test bowler Peter George claimed his third successive five-wicket haul as Copdock & Old Ipswichians drew at Saffron Walden.

Copdock, who slumped to 83 for seven in pursuit of the home team’s 194 all out, clung on with eight wickets down for the draw.

Gibbs Denley East Anglian Premier Cricket League

Swardeston 256 for 7 in 52.2 overs declared (S Gray 131no, J Elliott 35, J Sole 34). *Cambridge Granta 96 for 4 in 32 overs (A Fullarton 45no). Cambridge Granta (8pts) drew with Swardeston (12pts). Woolpit 235 for 7 in 55 overs (C Rutterford 102, W Parker 43, M Jones 38, M Comber 4 for 48). *Clacton 190 for 7 in 46 overs (J Hughes 63, M Comber 40, W Parker 4 for 62). Clacton (8pts) drew with Woolpit (14pts). *Great Witchingham 270 for 8 in 62 overs (JM Spelman 104, J Hale 75, S Joubert 37, K Adhav 4 for 67, M Bissett 3 for 80). Burwell 17 for 1 in 6.4 overs. Great Witchingham (13pts) drew with Burwell (7pts). Vauxhall Mallards 199 for 9 in 66 overs (A Shearer 50no, S Goldsmith 41, M Platter 33, C Brown 3 for 46). *Horsford 29 for 2 in 10.5 overs. Horsford (7pts) drew with Vauxhall Mallards (7pts). *Saffron Walden 194 all out in 54 overs (G Ecclestone 43, N Gladwin 30, G Gillard 28, J King 21, A Mackinlay 21, P George 5 for 63, C Swallow 3 for 52). Copdock & Old Ipswichians 125 for 8 in 38 overs (T Rash 30, H Thomas 25, M Cull 25, G Batticciotto 3 for 9). Saffron Walden (11pts) drew with Copdock & Old Ipswichian (8pts). *Sudbury 194 for 8 in 66 overs (D Batch 42, R Darkins 32, J Poulson 26, J Phillips 22, M Hunn 4 for 34). Bury St Edmunds 192 for 7 in 43 overs (T Huggins 58no, A Jhunjhunwala 58, J Lofts 27, J Gallagher 4 for 52). Sudbury (8pts) drew with Bury St Edmunds (9pts).

* Denotes home team.