MICHAEL Comber scored a vital century to give Clacton the win that may well secure their place in the Gibbs Denley East Anglian League next season.

Hosts Burwell had reached 255 for nine in their 66 overs, but a fine all-round batting display by Clacton saw them reach their target in 41.3 overs with five wickets in hand.

Stefanus Gericke took three for 57 and David Coyle two for 62 as Clacton kept in the game when Burwell batted, and then Garth Davson (20), Ben France (35) and skipper Martyn Cull (51) gave Clacton a solid start.

Comber took over until he was out for exactly 100 with just six more runs needed. Gericke finishing things off to end up with 37 not out.

Bottom team Norwich, meanwhile, were losing by 21 runs at Great Witchingham and they are now 34 points behind Clacton with just two games left.

Sudbury chalked up another excellent win when they dismissed Vauxhall Mallards for 152 and secured a two wicket win.

Hasantha Fernando snapped up five for 19 in his 11 overs, while Ben Hyett finished things off with three for 20.

Although Adam Mansfield’s 27 was the top score, there were six other scores in double figures as Sudbury successfully chased down their target.

Bury St Edmunds were bowled out for 168 by title chasers Cambridge Granta, who scraped home by two wickets. Tom Huggins had scored 48 while Sasha Ward was left unbeaten on 20 as he watched as six wickets fell at the other end.

Phil Edwards (two for 43)and Tom Rash (three for 33) made sure that Granta were made to work very hard before they secured the win that leaves them 35 points ahead of Swardeston at the top of the table with their rivals having two games left to play.

Halstead suffered a heavy defeat at Swardeston.

Peter Lambert’s 124 helped the hosts to 314 for four before declaring after just 55 overs.

Opening batsman Freddie Blackwell replied with 51, but apart from 38 from Josh Wells the other batsmen did not contribute much to a total of 145 all out.

Sam Thelwell and George Walker both picked up three wickets for the Norfolk side.

Gibbs Denley East Anglian Premier League

*Burwell 255 for 9 (66 overs: G Goosen 61no, P Summerskill 51, S Gericke 3 for 57). Clacton 258 for 5 (41.3 overs: M Comber 100, M Cull 51, S Gericke 37no, B France 35, G Davson 20). Clacton (25pts) bt Burwell (12) by 5 wkts.

*Bury St Edmunds 168 (58 overs: T Huggins 48, S Ward 20, S Park 5 for 26). Cambridge Granta 171 for 8 (51.2 overs: B Creese 44, A Fullarton 35, S Park 30, T Rash 3 for 33). Cambridge Granta (25) bt Bury (6) by 2 wkts.

*Great Witchingham 231 for 8 (66 overs: S Arthurton jnr 82, C Rogers 61, AM Watson 4 for 45). Norwich 210 (51.3 overs: AM Watson 62, R.McCone 4 for 67). Gt Witchingham (30) bt Norwich (7) by 21 runs.

Horsford 212 (65.3 overs: R O’Connell 50). *Saffron Walden 215 for 2 (53.1 overs: A Gale 67, J Barrs 64). Saffron Walden (25) bt Horsford (7) by 8 wkts.

Vauxhall Mallards 152 for 9 (49.4 overs: A Shearer 60, P Free 43, H Fernando 5 for 19, B Hyett 3 for 20). *Sudbury 153 for 8 (49.4 overs: A Mansfield 27, W Shropshire 26, N Poole 23, M Addison 3 for 34). Sudbury (25) bt Vauxhall Mallards (6) by 2 wkts.

*Swardeston 314 for 4 dec (55 overs: P Lambert 124, J Taylor 58, R Sims 42, J Hatwell 28). Halstead 145 (39.1 overs: F Blackwell 51, J Wellls 38, S Thelwell 3 for 26, G Walker 3 for 49). Swardeston (30) bt Halstead (2) by 169 runs.

* Denotes home team.