HALSTEAD scored a vital win over Bury St Edmunds to move up to a comfortable mid-table position at the halfway point of the Gibbs Denley East Anglian Premier League season.

Freddie Blackwell’s 67 provided the backbone to a Halstead total of 169 with Tom Philp (29 not out) and Syed Rasel (23) given the only serious support.

All the Bury bowlers were successful, with Tom Rash the pick of the bunch with four for 52, Tom Huggins taking three for 17, Simon Rees two for 44 and Mark Nunn one for 49.

Having bowled the home team out in 50 overs Bury knew they had no pressure for time in their reply. The only question was if they could avoid being dismissed – and 48 overs later the answer was a negative.

Tom Huggins scored 44 at the top of the order and Oliver Huggins weighed in with 32 at No. seven, but the rest of the innings was a disappointment as Bury slumped to 129 all out. Halstead only used three bowlers, with Rasel grabbing four for 47, Philp two for 40 and Matt Spatcher two for 37.

Sudbury and Clacton produced an exciting climax that ended with honours even as the home side finished 10 runs short with two wickets in hand.

Sudbury had posted 254 for seven, with Darren Batch (62), Jay Phillips (58), Kandage Fernando (39) and Craig Smith (35) the main contributors. Ben France collected four for 56 in his 17 overs.

Clacton, perilously close to the foot of the table, made a poor start with both openers out and just 24 runs on the board. Then Martyn Cull (84) and George Brown (75) put on 136 for the third wicket.

Stefanus Gericke (30) and Scott Facey (27 not out) kept it going, but Jonny Gallagher’s four for 43 kept them just behind the clock.

If Clacton may have been disappointed not to have reached their target, there was good news subsequently as bottom team Norwich had narrowly lost when Swardeston secured victory by one wicket.

That win was enough to put Swardeston top as previous leaders Horsford were well beaten by 148 runs by Vauxhall Mallards at Brundall. Champions Cambridge Granta also won easily, beating Saffron Walden by 131 runs.

Gibbs Denley East Anglian Premier League

*Cambridge Granta 232 for 9 (66 overs: A Fullarton 130). Saffron Walden 101 (34.2 overs: J Coleman 7 for 38). Cambridge Granta (30pts) bt Saffron Walden (4) by 131 runs.

Sudbury 254 for 7 (66 overs: D Batch 62, J Phillips 58, K Fernando 39, C Smith 35, B France 4 for 56). *Clacton 244 for 8 (55 overs: M Cull 84, G Brown 75, S Gericke 30, S Facey 27no, J Gallagher 4 for 43). Clacton (10) drew with Sudbury (17).

Burwell 276 for 4 (66 overs: G Goosen 100, P Summerskill 87no). *Great Witchingham 238 for 9 (59 overs: C Rogers 124, J Vowden 4 for 37). Gt Witchingham (9) drew with Burwell (17).

*Halstead 169 (50.3 overs: F Blackwell 67, T Philp 29no, S Rasel 23, T Rash 4 for 52, T Huggins 3 for 17). Bury St Edmunds 129 (48.4 overs: T Huggins 44, O Huggins 32, S Rasel 4 for 47). Halstead (30) bt Bury St Edmunds (5) by 40 runs.

*Norwich 166 (57.2 overs: G Walker 4 for 38). Swardeston 167 for 9 (49.4 overs: J Abraham 55, P Wiseman 5 for 50). Swardeston (25) bt Norwich (6) by 1 wkt.

*Vauxhall Mallards 263 for 9 dec (63.5 overs: A Shearer 76, S Potger 59). Horsford 115 (42.4 overs). Vauxhall Mallards (30) bt Horsford (5) by 148 runs.

* Denotes home team.