FRINTON cricketer Mike Comber is eying three figures after playing a starring role – but frustratingly missing out on a century – in his side’s “must-win” success at basement boys Bury St Edmunds.

The Ashlyns Road side kept their Gibbs Denley East Anglian Premier League title quest on track with a 116-run victory at the appropriately-named Victory Ground on Saturday.

In the process they gleaned a full 30 points and climbed to second in the table, leapfrogging Swardeston and now hot on the trail of leaders Sudbury.

Former Essex man Comber was a pivotal figure, scoring 76 – his best score of the season and his third half-century - and removing top-order batsmen Luke Du Plooy and Tom Curran.

And while delighted to play such a key role against his former side, Comber admitted being frustrated that he could not convert his score into three figures.

“There’s no doubt it was a must-win game last weekend,” he told the Gazette.

“If we’ve got any chance of winning the title, we had to take 30 points.

“It’s vital we cash in against the struggling sides and in this league, getting over the finish line and winning is massive, especially when you consider that we’ve got Swardeston and Sudbury coming up on consecutive Saturdays.

“On a personal note, it was nice to do well, although I keep getting starts without being able to convert them into three figures.

“That upsets me and is a bit of a stone in my shoe at the moment.

“It’s something I want to put right as soon as possible – ideally this weekend – because it frustrates me.

“In the last few weeks I’ve got three 40s and now a 70.

“I’d have liked to turn at least one of those into a century and, in some respects, I consider it only half a job done.

“There’s always an element of luck in cricket and I’ve had a couple of soft dismissals, but there have also been a couple of lapses in concentration and lazy shots in there which I have to eradicate.

“However, if I keep plugging away, I’m confident a big score is on the horizon and bowling-wise I feel fine and I’m over my back injury.

“It still niggles a bit sometimes but overall I feel much better than I did and it’s not really causing any problems.”

After winning the toss and electing to bat, Frinton made 292 for six, with Miguel Machado, like Comber, making 76.

Struggling Bury were then all out for 176, with Comber taking two for 14.

Pulina Tharanga also took a couple of wickets but the star man with the ball was Dan Carter, who took four for 46.

Former Frinton man Murray Commins made 71.

Kyran Young’s side now switch their attention to Saturday’s home match against Copdock and Old Ipswichian (11am start) when they welcome back former Essex run-machine Jaik Mickleburgh.

Comber believes his former county team-mate is a huge coup for the club and the best batsman in the league by a “country mile”.

“Copdock is another big game this weekend but we’ve got a very strong side and Jaik’s available,” said Comber.

“That’s a huge plus for us because he’s the best batsman in the league by far – by a country mile.

“He’s brilliant and brings so much to the table, not just in terms of his batting ability but also his calmness, temperament and cricket knowledge.

“It relaxes everyone and because of the experience he’s got, he’s got an answer to every scenario.

“Playing alongside him is a real education for our younger players and I hope they realise how lucky they are to have him around.”