Copdock & Old Ipswichian suffered a fifth defeat of the summer, soundly beaten by 144 runs at Norwich in a Gibbs Denley East Anglian Premier League clash on Saturday.

Captain Chris Swallow bowled well, taking five for 63 off 11 overs, but all of Horsford’s top eight batsmen made double-figure scores on their way to a commanding total of 324 all out, the innings ending off the last ball of their 64 overs.

The key partnership of the day was the 128-run stand between Callum Metcalf (65) and Chris Read (86) for the fifth wicket, which propelled the score from 114 for four to 242.

Jack Beaumont finally broke up this pair, having Metcalf trapped LBW during the spinner’s stint of 17-4-83-3. Swallow had Read stumped by Sam Webb-Snowling.

Earlier, Copdock opening bowler Harry Bailey had been hit for 24 off his one over, opener Chad Bowes smashing 25 off just 11 balls.

Copdock were always likely to struggle to get near to Horsford’s target, not least after both openers, Webb-Snowling (9) and Alex Oxley (6), fell cheaply to Thomas Nudd.

Nudd also removed Jack Mexome to leave the visitors of 43 for three, and that quickly became 65 for four when Hugh Thomas (4) fell LBW to Metcalf.

Beaumont, in harness with the dominant Glenton Stuurman, engineered a recovery by putting on 65 for the fifth wicket.

Beaumont made a swift 51 off 65 balls, featuring 11 boundaries, but his departure, bowled by Chris Brown, was the beginning of the end for Copdock.

In fact, Brown took the remaining six wickets to finish with figures of 11.5-3-27-6. He dismissed skipper Sallow (3) and also claimed the key wicket of Stuurman, the South African being bowled for 81. He plundered three sixes and 11 fours in his knock.

Copdock’s innings was all over inside 38 overs, Horsford cementing their seventh place in the table with what was their fourth win of the summer.

Copdock, who stay in ninth spot, are at home to Burwell & Exning this Saturday, while Bury St Edmunds entertain Frinton, and Mildenhall play host to Vauxhall Mallards.