A SUPERB all-round display by Stefan Gericke saw Clacton take an important step towards securing their Gibbs Denley East Anglian Premier League status for another season.

The 24-year-old South African all-rounder scored an undefeated 90 and then picked up five cheap wickets as Clacton hammered Essex rivals Halstead by 190 runs on Saturday.

The left-handed Gericke joined Suffolk batsman Martyn Cull at the crease with Clacton precariously placed at 86 for four, but the pair added 201 undefeated for the fifth wicket as the home team closed on 287 for five, Cull finishing agonisingly one run shy of his century.

After Matthew Surry and Freddie Blackwell had steered Halstead to 71 for one, slow left armer Gericke then got to work with the ball, returning the impressive figures of 15.2-8-12-5, as the visitors collapsed to 97 all out. Suffolk all-rounder Ben France weighed in with 18-4-55-4.

Clacton collected the maximum 30 points and as a result extended their lead to 35 points over basement dwellers Norwich, who picked up 12 points as they drew with Sudbury. All team have five matches still to play.

Tim McIntosh struck 115 not out at nearly a run a ball for Norwich as they posted 210 for eight in a match reduced to 80 overs at Postwick, but Sudbury secured a draw as opener Adam Mansfield top-scored with 57.

Mansfield shared a second-wicket stand of 72 with Darren Batch and added 59 for the third with Kandage Fernando as Sudbury replied with 161 for six.

Former Essex and England opener Jason Gallian, batting at No. 4, made 93 not out for Saffron Walden as they drew with Bury St Edmunds.

Gallian’s innings occupied 105 balls and contained eight fours and three sixes as Saffron Walden were 19 runs short of overhauling Bury’s 261 for nine despite facing 12 overs less.

Bury skipper Justin Bishop had earlier scored 59 from just 54 deliveries with ten fours and Suffolk team mate Scott Harvey struck 53.

Gibbs Denley East Anglian Premier League

Bury St Edmunds 261 for 9 (in 66 overs: J Bishop 59, S Harvey 53, P Edwards 45, J Sturgeon 31no, S Rees 28, R Done 3 for 71). Saffron Walden 243 for 6 (in 54 overs, J Gallian 93no, G Ecclestone 42, P Edwards 3 for 54, T Huggins 3 for 58). Saffron Walden (11pts) drew with Bury St Edmunds (16pts).

Clacton 287 for 5 (in 66 overs: M Cull 99no, S Gericke 90no). Halstead 97 (in 44.2 overs: (F Blackwell 33, M Surry 22, S Gericke 5 for 12, B France 4 for 55). Clacton (30pts) bt Halstead (2pts) by 190 runs.

Great Witchingham 161 for 8 (in 51 overs: S Arthurton 41, C Rogers 35, L Hill 3 for 23, D Rice 46, J Spelman 4 for 36). Cambridge Granta 162 for 8 (in 43.2 overs: J Handley 60no, R McCone 4 for 30). Cambridge Granta (25pts) bt Great Witchingham (6pts) by 2 wkts.

Horsford 79 (in 38.5 overs: N Perry Warnes 25, Tanwir Afzal 3 for 13, A Huckle 3 for 19, M Bissett 3 for 24). Burwell 80 for 0 (in 25 overs: P Richer 52no, C Summerskill 23no). Burwell (25pts) bt Horsford (0pts) by 10 wkts.

Norwich 201 for 8 in 41 overs: T McIntosh 115no, M Tipping 26). Sudbury 161 for 6 (in 39 overs: A Mansfield 57, K Fernando 42, D Batch 36). Norwich (12pts) drew with Sudbury (8pts).

Vauxhall Mallards v Swardeston - match abandoned without a ball being bowled. 7pts each.

* Denotes home team.