KEITH PEEL Anglian Premier League: Star bats Jaden Hatwell and Richard Sims again took the spotlight as Swardeston kept the pressure on Gibbs Denley East Anglian Premier Cricket League pacemakers Bury St Edmunds.

KEITH PEEL

Star bats Jaden Hatwell and Richard Sims again took the spotlight as Swardeston kept the pressure on Gibbs Denley East Anglian Premier Cricket League pacemakers Bury St Edmunds.

Second-placed Swardeston beat Fakenham by 64 runs in their derby clash on Saturday and, with the campaign at its halfway stage, are 23 points behind reigning champions Bury, who won by nine wickets at Mildenhall.

Cambridge Granta beat Godmanchester by seven wickets to take over third place from Horsford, who drew with Vauxhall Mallards at Brundall after staging a remarkable recovery.

Horsford are now fourth, with Mallards fifth and Fakenham seventh, just above Norwich, who lost by 26 runs at Clacton.

Swardeston posted 268 for six at Highfield Lawn, where Hatwell hit 77 and Sims 56.

That took their respective Alliance aggregates in eight fulfilled EAPL fixtures this season to 448 and 405.

Perhaps even more pleasing for club officials was the 68 scored by young opener Matt Kelly, his maiden EAPL half century.

Michael Eccles and George Walker both claimed four wickets as Fakenham, after being 57 for five, were eventually bowled out for 204, of which Stephen Gray made 47, David Wells 36, Ben Harvey 35 and Justin Granger 32.

Richard Gilliat (59) and Matthew Reid (40 not) put on 101 for the last wicket to help Horsford score 200 after being 99 for nine.

Chris Brown, the other main run contributor with 40, followed up with three wickets as Mallards made 155 for six.

Carl Amos top scored with 38, while Robert Purton hit 35 and Luke Newton 24 not out.

Paul Bradshaw, the Mallards and Norfolk skipper, who has been troubled by a hamstring injury, played in the match but didn't bowl.

Clacton's 163-run total at Vista Road was dominated by Ryan Ten Doeschate, who scored 91.

Ashley Watson took five for 24 for Norwich, who were then dismissed for 137, of which Ben Patston made 40, Oliver Higenbottam 33 and skipper Chris Borrett 27.

Frantzwa Bester contributed 54 as bottom team Mildenhall made 211 for eight at Wamil Way.

Justin Bishop (89 not) and Tom Huggins (77) spearheaded Bury's 214 for one response with a 147-run opening partnership.

Matthew Pateman (70) and Oliver Huggins (56) featured in a 100-run second-wicket stand as Godmanchester scored 194 at The Parks, where Sean Park took four wickets.

Jason Coleman hit 57 and Jacques Du Toit 51 in Cambridge Granta's 195 for three reply.