Daron Cruickshank’s terrific century was not quite enough to secure a first win of the season for basement dwellers Bury St Edmunds, in their East Anglian Premier League clash away at Norfolk-based Vauxhall Mallards.

West Indian all-rounder Cruickshank struck a wonderful 141 to guide his side to within 39 runs of victory, before he was the sixth wicket to fall with the score on 235.

Chasing Mallards’ total of 268 for eight declared, off 61.5 overs, Bury ended on a tantalising 259 for nine off 58 overs, still 10 runs short of victory.

Their late quest for quick runs was not helped by a number of runs outs – four in the innings, making it six in the whole match – and in the end the last pair of Adam Kizis and James McKinney saw out the final few balls.

Ben Whittaker was run out by Brett Stolworthy on the second ball of the last over, but McKinney survived the last four deliveries to at least scramble a second draw of the season – Bury have lost their other seven matches.

At the start of the day Mallards, who won the toss and chose to bat, rallied from 57 for three to reach 268 for six declared.

John Ewart was the main run-scorer with 72 at No.5, putting on 91 with Mitchell Todd (44) for the fourth wicket.

Ewart was bowled by Cruickshank, one of the 31-year-old’s two wickets, to leave the hosts on 181 for five. Cruickshank had earlier bowled free-scoring opener Matthew Plater for 34.

All-rounder Luke Caswell (45 not out) and skipper Alistair Shearer (40) added what proved to a precious 66 runs for the sixth wicket, to leave Bury facing a tough target.

In reply, Cruickshank found good support from young opener Dominic Manthorpe (42), the duo sharing a third wicket stand worth 99. The promising Manthorpe, recruited from Hadleigh before last summer, struck nine fours in his innings.

Manthorpe’s exit prompted a clatter of wickets to fall, but Cruickshank and the experienced Mark Nunn (26) added a further 91 for the sixth wicket to set up an exciting finale.

Cruickshank helped himself to three sixes and 15 fours, in his 109-ball innings of 141, but three late run outs meant that Bury had to be content with a draw.

Nunn, Luke Du Plooy and Whittaker were all run out, by three different fielders, to leave Bury still in search of a first win.