Kyran Young led from the front with an unbeaten century as Frinton eased to a comprehensive victory over hosts Bury St Edmunds by 95 runs, in a Gibbs Denley East Anglian Premier League match on Saturday.
Captain Young struck 105 not out as Frinton, after a delayed start due to early-morning rain, accumulated 212 for six off a reduced allocation of 44 overs.
Bury, still searching for their first win of the summer, were bowled out for just 117 in reply, spinner Lewis Catlow taking six for 36 off eight overs.
“It was a good win for us, and sets us up nicely for a big test against Copdock this coming weekend,” explained Young.
“When we turned up, it was raining, and it’s always horrible having to wait an hour or so to get started.
“I lost the toss as well. We were put into bat, but I would have made the same decision if I had won the toss – you have to really field first when it’s been raining and the pitch is juicy.
“Everyone expects early wickets to fall, but our plan was to then hang around and frustrate their bowlers,” added Young.
Bury all-rounder Mark Nunn enjoyed some of that early success, removing both openers Michael Griggs (first ball of the innings) and Joe Fowler (11) to leave the visitors on 34 for two.
But Young masterminded his side’s recovery, in harness with first Merv Westfield and then later Michael Comber.
Young and Westfield added 69 for the third wicket, ex-Essex county bowler Westfield hitting one six in his knock of 37 off 41 deliveries, before he was caught by Nunn off the bowling of James McKinney.
Ex-Bury captain Comber carried on the good work, contributing 31 off 47 balls in a partnership of 86 for the fourth wicket, as Frinton took a stranglehold of the match.
“It’s fantastic batting with those two, Merv (Westfield) and Mike (Comber). They really take the pressure off the batsman at the other end,” enthused Young.
“They both have bags of experience and they both know when to hit the bad ball. And Michael obviously had a lot of knowledge of the wicket, from his time with Bury.
“On a personal note, I was delighted to score a hundred. I was trying to do the right thing for the team.
“I scored one century last season, which came against Copdock, so it would be nice to build on this latest innings against them this weekend. In the end, we were happy to get a score of over 200,” added Young.
Bury always struggled in their reply, despite their top four batsmen all getting into double figures.
Dan Carter made the vital breakthrough, removing danger-man Justin Bishop (10), before spinners Catlow and Kemar Smith, the younger brother of ex-West Indian Test star Dwayne Smith, began working their way through the hosts’ batting line-up.
Overseas player Smith took two for 23 off his nine overs, including the wicket of stubborn opener Ben Curran (11), while Catlow posted superb figures of 8-1-36-6.
Dominic Manthorpe, who had taken two for 40 earlier in the day, top-scored with 22 at No. 3, while fellow youngster Josh Cantrell made 21. But Bury rather crumbled from 78 for two to 117 all out, losing their last eight wickets for just 39 runs.
“All talk during the week had been for us to frustrate their batsmen with dot balls, rather than just chasing wickets,” explained Frinton skipper Young.
“And we managed that well. Dan (Carter) and Michael (Comber) both bowled a very good line and length, to build the pressure.
“In the end, Bury needed to take risks in their quest for some quick runs. They are a young side, but they do have some very experienced players and it’s never easy playing against a Premier League side,” added Young.
Comber’s seven overs cost just 19 runs, while fellow opening bowler Carter had figures of 6-3-8-1. There were two stumpings for wicketkeeper Dominic Stockdale.
This was Frinton’s second win of the season, after losing narrowly by three wickets at Great Witchingham the previous weekend.
Bury, by contrast, are the only club to have lost all four of their opening fixtures.
There is one more round of limited overs (50 overs a side) matches this Saturday, before the start of the long format (minimum of 120 overs in a day) the following weekend.
Bury are away at West Suffolk rivals Mildenhall on Saturday, while Frinton host Copdock.
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