Talbots go further clear
Sudbury (159-4) extended their lead at the top of the Gibbs Denley East Anglian Premier League by seeing off the challenge of Burwell and Exning (156) by six wickets.
Sudbury have 299 points from their 14 games, 56 ahead of second- placed Swardeston.
Sudbury decided to field when they won the toss on a very hot and humid day at Friars Street, hopeful of restricting their visitors to a manageable total.
James Poulson (1-22) struck first when Tom Griffiths drove into the hands of Kenny Moulton-Day at cover to depart without scoring.
Andrew Bramley was the next man out when he skewed a drive to be caught off the bowling of Jonny Gallagher.
A useful partnership of 56 between Burwell and Exning skipper Joe Tetley and Simon Donald pushed the score up to 70 before Tim Johnston (1-48) found a way through Tetley’s defences to bowl him for 25.
Donald continued on his way towards a half-century, but fell nine runs short when Tom Huggins bowled him through his legs to leave Burwell and Exning 114-4.
Huggins then weaved his magic to take regular wickets to stifle Burwell’s progress.
The ex-Suffolk captain took 6-32 in a devastating spell of 16.5 overs that saw the Cambridgeshire-based side subside to 156 all out.
Gallagher provided excellent support for Huggins as he toiled away in the heat and probably deserved better than his 2-46 from a full 18 overs.
Sudbury’s reply started brightly, with both Huggins and Adam Mansfield adding 32 for the first wicket.
Mansfield (3) fell when Tetley clung onto a difficult chance behind the stumps which brought Darren Batch to the crease.
Huggins and Batch added 83 for the second wicket, which all but ended the match as a contest.
With the league leaders needing just 42 to win, Huggins (58) fell to one which spun sharply to beat his outside edge and clipped off stump.
Moulton-Day (0) and the previous week’s hero Ben Parker (2) came and went in quick succession, both having been bowled by spinners Jay Ghelani and Tim Catley.
Making his Sudbury debut, Martyn Cull (8no) ensured there were no further scares, and alongside Batch (68no) added the required runs to bring victory for Sudbury just before the scheduled tea break.
Sudbury travel to the seaside town of Frinton on Saturday (11am) hoping to increase their lead at the top of the table. Frinton are fourth, 65 points adrift of Sudbury.
l Joe Harvey hit 64 and Jonathan Amos 54 as Sudbury II (247) cruised to a 107-run victory over Copford (140) in Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Championship Division Three. Ben Hyett took seven wickets for 27 runs as the hosts fell well short.
l In Division Eight, Sudbury III (140) lost to Colchester Cavaliers (222) by 82 runs. Charlie Thomas took 4-47, but Sudbury were undone by Norman Hussain, with 5-35.
