FRINTON'S cricketers roared back to winning ways with a ruthless 132-run success at Saffron Walden.

It was a perfect response to the previous weekend's loss against title rivals Sudbury, which was also their first defeat of this year's Read Brothers Ltd East Anglian Premier League campaign.

Saturday's success kept them top of the table and they now have a four-point advantage over second-placed Swardeston, who romped to a 241-run victory at home to troubled basement boys Vauxhall Mallards.

An added bonus was the fact Sudbury, now in third, slid to an 11-run defeat at Copdock and Old Ipswichian.

Frinton now have 318 points from their 17 games, Swardeston 314 and Sudbury 297.

With just five matches left, it promises to be a thrilling finale but Frinton will head into next weekend's home match against Horsford (11am start) in confident mood after an impressive display at Saffron Walden.

After winning the toss and opting to bat, they compiled an imposing total of 329 for seven, from their 50 overs.

Opener Michael Griggs (32) gave them a steady start but the stars of the innings were Adam Wheater and Ashley Watson.

The former compiled a stunning innings of 114 runs, containing 15 fours and two sixes, before being caught by Regis Chakabva, off the bowling of Joe Barrs.

Watson contributed a valuable 90 runs - including ten fours and a six - before being caught by Michael Wallis, off an Alex Hancock delivery.

There were more runs further down the order from Blaine Bannister, who finished unbeaten on 38.

Barrs finished with three wickets for Saffron Walden, at the expense of 58 runs.

Frinton's bumper score was always going to be tricky for the hosts to chase down and so it proved.

They were eventually all out for 197 in the 47th over.

Chakabva was their top-scorer with 51, just making his half-century before being caught and bowled by Dulanjala Mendis.

The Sri Lankan finished with three wickets for 21 runs, from his ten overs, and also ran out opener Jake Foley.

Captain Mike Comber picked up a couple of quick wickets in his 3.4 overs, for 25 runs, and there were also two wickets for all-rounder Watson (two for 39 in nine overs).

The other wicket to fall went to Kyran Young, who dismissed top-order batsman Michael Wallis for a duck.

Frinton finished with 25 points and Saffron Walden five.