Mallards dabble in defeat

The 2010 Gibbs Denley East Anglian Premier League season started with a shock 131-run defeat for 2009 champions Vauxhall Mallards.

Last year, they posted just one solitary defeat and romped home to the title with a massive 86 point lead over runners up Norwich, the biggest title win in any of the ECB's 25 Premier Leagues.

In 2010, it could be an altogether different story however if their opening game against Great Witchingham is anything to go by.

Having won the toss and bowled, things didn't go Mallards way as James Spelman (76), Sam Arthurton (62) and Simon Chipperfield (45*) helped Great Witchingham accumulate a decent 272 for six from their 66 overs.

Mallards never threatened the target as James Marshall was the only player to each 30. James Spelman capped a fine all round display by taking 6-29.

Burwell started their EAPL campaign with a draw against Clacton, but maybe they overestimated the strength of the opposition which ultimately cost them a chance of victory.

Burwell won the toss and batted first. They struggled a bit at first, losing three wickets for 42 including that of former Zimbabwe and Essex pro Grant Flower.

However, Henry James (56) steadied things and then a 154 run unbeaten seventh wicket partnership between Danny Jones (130 not out) and Adam Huckle (60 not out) saw them bat the full 66 overs for 335.

Martyn Cull (57) and Ben Foakes (64) were the only Clacton batsmen to make any significant contributiion as they limped to 183 for eight from their 54 overs.

There may be another long season in store for Halstead after they were comprehensively beaten by Cambridge Granta. Granta captain Jason Coleman (75) and Bennie van Rooyen (102) shared a third wicket partnership of 171 which enabled the home side to reach 265 for four declared from 61 overs.

Halstead were bundled out for just 80 from 31 overs with Matt Friedlander grabbing 7-25 from 11 overs.

Horsfod began their campaign with a comfortable win over Bury St.Edmunds. Batting first, they made 190 all out with Chris Sabburg (44) and the evergreen Chris Brown (41) the mainstays of the innings.

Bury never got going, with none of their batsmen getting to 30 and they were bowled out for 131 in just over 40 overs. Ryan Findlay (5-42) and Chris Brown (3-31) teamed up to wreak havoc.

Darren Cousins starred with the ball to set up Saffron Walden's victory over Fakenham. The former Essex paceman took 5-44 from 17 overs as Fakenham were bundled out for 95. Walden got home for the loss of five wickets with Tom George (36) and Giles Ecclestone (28) getting them across the line for a comfortable win.

In the days final match Swardeston won a low scoring affair against Norwich at Postwick. Norwich won the toss d batted, but were shot out in 26 overs for just 87, and Harry Bush made 43 of them!

Sam Thelwell was the pick of the Swardeston bowlers with 5-35. Despite the loss of three early wickets, Ian Tufts (32 not out) saw his side home.