FRINTON were unable to hang on for a draw in their 105-run defeat at Sudbury, in the Gibbs Denley East Anglian Premier League.

Skipper Kyran Young finally won a toss but it was not one either captain was too keen on winning, as the wicket looked difficult to call.

Young opted to field and the home batsmen quickly discovered the wicket was a good one to bat on.

Suffolk captain Tom Huggins took a shine to the bowling of Mervyn Westfield (0 for 57 off 17 overs) and accelerated to a quickfire 58 off only 55 balls, before being caught by Michael Griggs off the bowling of skipper Young.

Young was the pick of the Frinton bowlers, with one for 43 off 11 overs.

Sudbury skipper Darren Batch held his bat for an unbeaten 104 as the runs flowed freely, with few chances being offered to the fielding side.

One highlight for Frinton was a superb direct-hit by David Brent, from deep in the outfield, to run out opener Nathan Poole for 84.

Sudbury finished with the large total of 306 for three off their 59 overs.

Frinton set out to see if they could chase this total with an aggressive spell from Griggs, who hit a quick 14 until caught off the bowling of Jamie Poulson.

At the other end, South African Murray Commins looked composed but Frinton were shaken when Young was given out LBW to the bowling of Huggins, despite the batsman and a few of the opposition claiming he had hit the ball first.

Commins followed shortly after, bowled by Poulson for a classy 53.

With Westfield and Brent barely troubling the scorers, it fell to Matt Foakes and Tom Benn to steady the ship with a gritty and determined 111 sixth-wicket partnership.

When Benn was needlessly run out for 36, Foakes followed him, having been caught for an excellent 74.

While Foakes and Benn were at the crease it looked like Frinton were heading for a draw.

However, after their departure, the tail didn’t wag at all and the bottom four failed to hold out with only four overs needed at the end for a draw.

Young will be keen to rally his troops for Saturday's home game against Woolpit and will be looking for an improvement from several of his senior players.

At Ashlyns Road, the match between Frinton's second team and Haverhill was abandoned due to thunder and lightning, just as the game was reaching its climax.

The visitors only made 139, after some excellent bowling by youngster Ed Ball (two for 18 off his seven overs) and veteran Tony Stubbs (two for 14 from 10 overs).

Frinton were then only 20 runs short, with Dom Stockdale and Lewis Catlow at the crease, when the heavens opened after Frinton had accelerated to 119 off 25 overs.

Skipper Catlow will hope for better luck next week when his team visit Halstead.

On Saturday, Frinton entertain Woolpit in an East Anglian Premier League match, starting at 11 am.

Frinton travel to Woolpit the following day to play in the National T20 competition.