Sudbury marked their second season at East Anglian Premier League level with a commanding six-wicket victory over visiting Burwell, at Friars Street on Saturday.

Sudbury marked their second season at East Anglian Premier League level with a commanding six-wicket victory over visiting Burwell, at Friars Street on Saturday.

Home captain Darren Batch won the toss and elected to field, and that decision was soon vindicated as Burwell were restricted to 174 for eight off their 50 overs.

The visitors only inched their way up to that total, due to a 50-run partnership for the sixth wicket between Ben Seabrook (36) and Sam Rippington (37 not out).

Sudbury’s bowling was consistent across the board, with two wickets apiece for Billy Moulton-Day (10-0-40-2) and spinner Tom Huggins (10-0-30-2), while James Poulson bowled his 10 overs for the cost of just 28 runs, with one wicket.

Openers Huggins, the former Suffolk skipper, and Adam Mansfield, the new Suffolk captain, ensured a solid platform in Sudbury’s reply.

The pair put on 66 for the first wicket, Mansfield making 18 off 50 balls, while Huggins went on to score 61, including 10 boundaries, after Batch and Ben Parker had both fallen cheaply.

By the time that Huggins was dismissed, the Suffolk hosts had reached 140 for four, at which point Ben Reece and James O’Brien saw the team to victory in 41.2 overs, on 178 for four.

Reece finished unbeaten on 53, off 64 deliveries, with eight fours and a six, while O’Brien supported with 16 not out.

“It’s an excellent start to the season for us,” confirmed Batch, Sudbury’s skipper.

“We were helped by an early run out, due to a mix-up between their openers (Simon Donald and Manish Burman), but after that all our bowlers bowled well.

“It was a good team effort, and for the most part we held our catches in the field as well. We bowled with great discipline throughout, and so Burwell were not able to score freely at any point.

“We made sure that they had to work hard for their runs.

“Our new opening pair of Tom (Huggins) and Adam (Mansfield) then got us off to a good start. Tom, as always, showed what a class player he is – he was straight back into his stride for the new season.

“(Ben) Reece then steadied the ship after we lost three quick wickets,” added Batch.