A RECORD tenth-wicket stand of 139 paved the way for Clacton to record their first Gibbs Denley East Anglian Premier League victory of the season.

Gary Kirk, the club’s cricket manager, is now hoping that Saturday’s 123-run win at home to Burwell will kick-start Clacton’s season.

Clacton, who won the toss and batted first, were struggling at 142 for nine when Ryan Chamberlain joined David Coyle at the wicket.

The pair transformed the course of the match, adding 139 – not only a record for the tenth wicket at any level for Clacton but also for the EAPL.

Coyle, who was 11 not out when the pair came together, struck 89 off 92 balls with 11 fours and a six while Chamberlain contributed an unbeaten 48 off 84 deliveries with six fours and a six.

Kieran Toner scored 55 in an opening stand of 70 in Burwell’s reply, but after his dismissal the visitors slumped to 99 for five and then 158 all out, Imran Sheikh returning figures of 16.5-3-45-5 and Coyle claiming 9-2-32-3.

Kirk said: “To be fair, Burwell’s opening pair bowled very well early on and were swinging the ball around. Some abject shots and not very good decisions (Clacton lost three of their top four lbw) left us in a poor position.

“It was a superb wicket and batting became easier as the ball went softer and the wicket became sun-baked, but David and Ryan batted fantastically well. I can’t begin to describe how well they played and changed the complexion of the game.

“David was not slogging – he was playing proper cricket shots – and they didn’t give a chance until David was out.”

Kirk, who said that both batsmen recorded their highest scores in the league, added: “We have had four matches rained off and played well in both the matches we have played, but this is our first win of the season.

“We always struggle to get our first win, and normally don’t start playing to our potential until the second half of the season, but we are hoping that this will take us to the next level and set our season up.”

A total of 646 runs were scored for the loss of just six as Bury St Edmunds and Great Witchingham played out a high-scoring draw at the Victory Ground.

James Spelman (147 not out) and Sam Arhurton (147) shared a second-wicket stand of 265 as the visitors racked up 414 for two in 65 overs – not far short of the league record of Swardeston’s 423 for seven against Vauxhall Mallards at Brundall in August 2002.

Tom Huggins played a captain’s innings of 136 not out compiled from 187 balls with 21 fours and a six to ensure a share of the spoils, after scoring an undefeated 42 the previous evening as Bury successfully chased 120 to beat Cambridge Granta away in the EAPL T20 competition.

Sudbury skipper Darren Batch was dismissed for 99 in his side’s draw at home to Vauxhall Mallards, who ended 22 runs short with their last pair at the wicket, Hasantha Fernando claiming 17-0-66-5.

Almost a year to the day that Copdock & Old Ipswichian last lost, Horsford inflicted a 96-run defeat on their hosts at Old London Road.

It was May 28 last year that Copdock lost to Mildenhall before embarking on their remarkable run which carried on into the start of this season.

After being 12 for three, Horsford recovered to post 218 all out, with Christopher Sabburg scoring 94 off just 86 balls with 12 fours and one six. Brothers James and John East took four wickets apiece.

After Reuben Sharpe (32) and Adrian Nel (20) put on 47 for the first wicket, Copdock subsided to 132 all out, Sabburg again proving their nemesis with three for 20.

Halstead remain without a win despite scoring 237 for eight thanks to Tom Philp (71) and Charlie Douglas-Hughes (82) adding 110 for the third wicket.

However, Glen Batticciotto (113 not out) and Simon Parmenter (69) saw Saffron Walden to a seven-wicket success.