Frinton held their nerve to record a battling three-wicket win at Norwich, so propelling themselves up to fourth spot in the Gibbs Denley East Anglian Premier Division.

East Anglian Daily Times: Woolpit v Burwell (Batting) Bowling is Andy Northcote. Batting is Ben Seabrook.Woolpit v Burwell (Batting) Bowling is Andy Northcote. Batting is Ben Seabrook.

The Essex club’s main goal has always been to avoid relegation, in their first ever season at this lofty level, but they have already over-achieved with three wins recorded from their first seven fixtures.

East Anglian Daily Times: Woolpit v Burwell (Batting) Batsman, left to right, Milan Mniszko and Ben Seabrook.Woolpit v Burwell (Batting) Batsman, left to right, Milan Mniszko and Ben Seabrook.

Norwich were bowled out for just 88, in a mere 22 overs, undone by a fine spell of bowling from former Essex bowler Mervyn Westfield.

East Anglian Daily Times: Woolpit v Burwell (Batting) Batsman is Milan Mniszko.Woolpit v Burwell (Batting) Batsman is Milan Mniszko.

All-rounder Kyran Young removed both openers, but it was Westfield who ran through the hosts middle order to end with figures of 10-4-24-6.

East Anglian Daily Times: Woolpit v Burwell (Batting) Batting is Ben Seabrook.Woolpit v Burwell (Batting) Batting is Ben Seabrook.

Frinton lost opener Michael Griggs to the first ball of their reply, and were tottering on 63 for seven, still 26 runs short of victory, until Gihan Dilruk (17 not out) and David Brent (10 not out) saw them over the line.

East Anglian Daily Times: Woolpit v Burwell (Batting) Batting is Milan Mniszko. Bowling is Craig Estlea.Woolpit v Burwell (Batting) Batting is Milan Mniszko. Bowling is Craig Estlea.

“It was a tighter win than it should have been,” admitted Frinton skipper, Mark Jones, after this latest success in Norfolk.

“We were lucky to catch Norwich at the right time. They were without one of their best players, Ashley Watson because of injury, so they were a little weak.

“But we are continuing to surprise teams, and we keep plugging away.

“It will be good to see where we are placed, at the half-way point, when we’ve played every team,” added Jones.

Both sides struggled for runs on the Norwich wicket.

Jones continued: “The low scores were all down to a bit of everything, poor batting, a poor wicket, and some good bowling.

“In the context of the game, only 50 overs were bowled and 17 wickets fell.

“Personally, I was a bit disappointed with our fielding, and our batting was not up to scratch, but we’re in the top half of the table and we are having a good season.”

With regards star bowler Westfield, skipper Jones said: “Mervyn is a class above, when he wants to be.

“On his day, he can takes lots of wickets. He’s a natural match-winner, and he’s as good as any bowler in this league. He could certainly still be playing in the first-class environment.

“If anything, I’ve been a little bit disappointed with him this season. He’s lacked a bit of consistency, but I’ve since seen that he’s already taken 17 wickets for us, so he’s doing well.

“As a team, we are bowling well, and the longer the season goes on, the more experience we are getting.”

Frinton reached their target off just 28.3 overs, to record back-to-back wins following their previous weekend’s triumph over Horsford.

But they were indebted to the late order batting of Sri Lankan all-rounded Dilruk and fellow summer signing Brent.

“Both of them had been dropped down the order, because they had been disappointing with the bat,” revealed Jones.

“But they both batted well, under pressure, to see the game through for us.

“Now we can look forward to a home match against league leaders Woolpit, who on paper look the strongest side in the league.”

Woolpit rose to the top of the table, thanks to an impressive six-wicket win at home to Burwell.

The game was a personal triumph for skipper Andy Northcote, who followed up his five for 69 in Burwell’s 240 all out, with a match-winning knock of 119 at the top of the innings.

Woolpit lost Sam Webb-Snowling and Sean Dickson cheaply, but a partnership of 192 between Northcote and Craig Estlea (90) for the third wicket ensured a fifth victory from seven starts.

Elsewhere, Copdock & Old Ipswichian suffered a home defeat at the hands of Vauxhall Mallards by 112 runs.

The visitors amassed 280 for five off their 64 overs, and Copdock then lost their top five batsmen with just 15 on the board. They were eventually bowled out for 168, helped by a late cameo from Jack Beaumont, who struck 12 fours in his knock of 60.

Bury St Edmunds stay bottom, after a seven-wicket loss at home to Great Witchingham. The hosts were bowled out for just 122 in 53.2 overs.