SUDBURY put their poor run in the Gibbs Denley East Anglian Premier League behind them in emphatic fashion on Saturday.

Reigning champions Cambridge Granta were soundly beaten by 123 runs at Friars Street to end Sudbury’s run which had seen them fail to win since early July.

After winning the toss and batting first it looked as though Sudbury could be on the receiving end of another defeat as they slipped to 55 for five.

But skipper Darren Batch and Nathan Poole, who made 40, turned the innings around in a stand of 95, as Sudbury recovered to post 210 for nine, before bowling out Granta for only 87.

Batch, who finished unbeaten on 79 from 131 balls with ten fours and a six, said: “We know our pitch better than anyone and we knew batting was not going to get any easier.

“We knew if we could get through the first hour-and-a-half then hopefully we could get enough runs and it would be more difficult to bat on later, and that proved to be right.

“But at nought for two and 55 for five I must admit it wasn’t looking great, but fortunately Nathan and myself put on 95 and I got good support from the lower order to get our score up to 210.

“We knew if we could get 200 it would be very difficult to chase down as we are a good bowling and fielding side – it has tended to be our batting which has let us down this season.”

Batch admitted Sudbury were helped by the fact that Granta wicket-keeper Ben Richards broke a finger while fielding and did not bat.

“Jonny Gallagher got an early wicket and then there was a run out, before Ben Hyett bowled really well and got the wickets of (Alex) Fullarton and (Craig) Park – if Granta were going to get a draw or near to winning then they really needed a big performance from both of them – before James Poulson picked up three wickets in just two overs.”

Sudbury have regularly fielded several promising youngsters, and Batch conceded: “They are still learning about playing at this level, especially when it comes to batting, but hopefully next season they will be able to contribute more.”

One of those youngsters, Suffolk opening bowler Matt Hunn, was watching from the boundary’s edge on Saturday as he continues his recovery from glandular fever.

Batch said it is possible that Hunn, who is to train with Warwickshire during the winter, may play again before the end of the season.

However, he added it was unlikely that Sri Lankan Hasantha Fernando will return next season because of work, and that the club will be looking to replace him with another overseas player.

Meanwhile, Clacton openers George Brown and Muhammad Atif shared a double-century stand in the EAPL in their 81-run victory over already-relegated Essex rivals Halstead.

Brown scorched his way to an unbeaten 165 off 160 balls while Atif made 92 from 139 deliveries before he was out.

Clacton were able to declare after just 52 overs on 287 for two, before bowling out their visitors for 206, Josh Wells and Ed Clark compiling half-centuries.

Elsewhere there were defeats for both Bury St Edmunds and Copdock & Old Ipswichian.

Bury’s Justin Bishop and Tom Rash took three wickets apiece in Horsford’s 216 for eight at the Victory Ground, but Chris Brown spun his way to 18-4-50-5 as Bury went down by 58 runs.

Copdock suffered an even heavier defeat, losing by ten wickets to Vauxhall Mallards, after being bowled out for only 126, Paul Bradshaw taking 13.5-4-37-6. It could have been even worse after Copdock slumped to 59 for seven, before James East struck 34 with seven fours batting at No. 9.

Gibbs Denley East Anglian Premier League

*Horsford 216 for 8 in 66 overs (C Sabburg 42, J Mickleburgh 31, J Leck 30no, M Spenceley 23, J Bishop 3 for 44, T Rash 3 for 51). Bury St Edmunds 158 all out in 55.1 overs (S Rees 36, T Rash 24, C Brown 5 for 50, J Wild 3 for 51)). Horsford (30pts) bt Bury St Edmunds (5pts) by 58 runs.

*Clacton 285 for 2 (G Brown 165no, Muhammad Atif 92). Halstead 206 all out (J Wells 54, E Clark 51, T Philp 34, S Walter 20no, S Gericke 3 for 40, B France 3 for 56). Clacton (30pts) bt Halstead (3pts) by 79 runs.

*Copdock & Old Ipswichian 126 all out in 36.5 overs (James East 34no, C Swallow 24, P Bradshaw 6 for 37, O Stone 4 for 36). Vauxhall Mallards 130 for 0 in 38.3 overs (C Amos 58no, D Turner 58no). Vauxhall Mallards (30pts) bt Copdock and Old Ipswichian (0pts) by 10 wkts.

*Great Witchingham 104 all out in 50.4 overs (T Collishaw 34, M Richards 6 for 22, K Toner 3 for 25). Burwell 107 for 4 in 28.5 overs (G Goosen 41no, P Summerskill 28, H James 20no). Burwell (25pts) bt Great Witchingham (2pts) by 6 wkts.

*Sudbury 210 for 9 in 66 overs (D Batch 79, N Poole 40, H Fernando 30, S Park 3 for 34, C Park 3 for 44). Cambridge Granta 87 for 9 (all out) in 29.2 overs (C Park 26, J Poulson 3 for 2). Sudbury (30pts) bt Cambridge Granta (4pts) by 123 runs.

*Swardeston 307 for 7 dec in 63 overs (M Parlane 124, P Lambert 67, M Thomas 31no, J Elliott 24no, J Barrs 4 for 89). Saffron Walden 205 all out in 55 overs (G Batticciotto 54, A Gale 40no, S Larsen 29, S Parmenter 25, M Thomas 5 for 40, M Eccles 3 for 53). Swardeston (30pts) bt Saffron Walden (6pts) by 102 runs.