Bowlers try but batting failure sinks Goddy Town

East Anglian Premier Division Godmanchester Town (133 all out) lost to Clacton (195 all out) by 62 runs SRI LANKAN spinner Praneth Jayasundera took another six wickets but Godmanchester were let down by their batting. Clacton s skipper Martin Smith did th

East Anglian Premier Division

Godmanchester Town (133 all out) lost to Clacton (195 all out) by 62 runs

SRI LANKAN spinner Praneth Jayasundera took another six wickets but Godmanchester were let down by their batting.

Clacton's skipper Martin Smith did the damage for the visitors, taking an incredible eight wickets as Godmanchester crumbled.

The Essex side batted first with Sri Lankan test batsman Indika De Serum scoring an impressive 81 runs in 89 balls before falling victim to Jayasundera.

Elliott Baldwin took two early wickets for just three runs as Godmanchester made a fine start but opener Gareth James (47) and De Serum steadied the ship.

Jayasundera's spin slowed the scoring rate as he finished with figures of 6-54, while Paul Swannell and captain Bevis Moynan took one wicket apiece.

Five dropped catches in the field could have made Clacton's modest total of 195 even lower and these extra runs were to prove costly.

Stuart Houghton (28) made a solid start for Goddy at the top of their innings but only Matt Pateman (14) of the top order made double figures.

Smith's consistent line and length bowling was proving too much for Goddy to handle as they were reduced to just 63-8, staring down the barrel of an embarrassing defeat.

However, bowler David McCallum saved some face with his best EAPL score of 36, supported by Moynan's 14 not out, putting on 59 for the ninth wicket.

An unlikely victory briefly seemed possible but Smith wrapped up the final two wickets - finishing with a caught and bowled - to round off a fine display.