PROUD Pat Patel has hailed an “outstanding” effort by Frinton’s cricketers after the club finished as Gibbs Denley East Anglian Premier League runners-up.

They finished second in the table courtesy of last Saturday’s convincing four-wicket victory at home to Vauxhall Mallards.

Frinton started the day in third place but leapfrogged their opponents, to cap a glorious first season since winning promotion from the Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Championship.

“It’s been outstanding and the boys exceeded all expectations, by a long way,” said chairman of cricket Patel.

“When we started, we only wanted to avoid relegation.

“Genuinely, that was our aim for the season.

“After the first two games – we drew one and lost one – we thought it might be a backs-to-the-wall season.

“But we went on a winning streak after that and managed to play very well.

“We haven’t got a batsman in the top 18, in the Premier League stats.

“Our batting has been a collective thing and our bowling has been our strength.

“Our fielding has also been good and there’s a very strong team spirit, so different components have come together.

“Someone told me the other day that Frinton’s involvement has lifted the bar in the EAPL.

“Normally the team that comes up struggles and quite possibly goes straight back down again.

“This year, people have said to me that they knew we’d be there or thereabouts come the end of the season.

“They knew we wouldn’t be cannon fodder.”