There was an early finish at The Common as Swardeston slipped to a disappointing defeat at the hands of fellow high-flyers Sudbury in the Gibbs Denley East Anglian Premier League.

On a day when the bowlers took centre stage Joe Gatting's side did well to dismiss the defending champions for 164 - but they were then skittled out for just 128 to lose a tight game by 36 runs.

The defeat, which followed a run of five successive victories, saw Swardeston replaced at the top by their conquerors, who now lead the way by 17 points, while Mildenhall still occupy third position after losing by one wicket at home to Frinton.

After being asked to bat first on an overcast morning Sudbury started well enough, with Darren Batch scoring 50 as 100 was passed for the loss of only two wickets, but it was downhill all the way after that as excellent home bowling saw the wickets tumble. Callum Taylor took 4-35 and Tom Oxley 3-26 while Joe Flatt stuck early to make it four wickets in five EAPL balls following his hat-trick the previous week.

It soon became clear that 164 was a more than useful total however as Swardeston collapsed to 31-5 and it took a good innings of 56 from Peter Lambert to get them anywhere near their target. Jeremy Elliott weighed in with an unbeaten 31 down the order but the end came in just the 31st over, thanks almost entirely to superb spells from James Poulson (5-27) and Jonathan Gallagher (4-42).

Norwich, who were bottom not so long ago, maintained their climb into mid-table by coming through a tense finish at Postwick to see off Copdock by two wickets.

The Suffolk side also struggled in the face of some good bowling and slipped to 149-8 before a batting unbeaten 41 from Glenton Stuurman helped take them up to the relative heights of 203.

Norwich looked in control as Jack Newby (29) and Martin Grellier (55) added 78 for the first wicket but the hosts then slipped to 161-6 and it needed a watchful unbeaten 37 from Lewis Sexton to guide them home with just 14 balls to spare.

Horsford also maintained their recent good form to see off Bury St Edmunds by 118 runs at Manor Park.

Callum Metcalf (89) and Chris Read (52) put on 124 for the fifth wicket after earlier half centuries from Chad Bowes and Stephan Marillier had put the hosts in a position to declare on 300-8 after 62 overs.

Bury's response was a spirited one, with Alfie Marsden scoring 96, but they were eventually bowled out in the 52nd over as Will Rogers (4-27) and Ryan Findlay (3-43) both impressed.

Great Witchingham recorded a comfortable seven wicket win at Vauxhall Mallards, who played the game with only 10 men.

Mallards skipper Ben France won the toss and elected to bat first but they suffered a big blow when overseas star Nicholas Smit was run out after scoring 20 in 27 balls.

That left the hosts on 64-3 and wickets then tumbled at regular at intervals as they were dismissed for 164. France made 41 and Adam Todd contributed a bright and breezy 40 before being brilliantly stumped by Sam Groves.

Witchingham's response started well and the score had reached 37 when skipper Sam Arthurton gave a return catch to Paul Bradshaw and departed for 17. Bradshaw struck again when he removed James Spelman for 22 and when the veteran also dismissed Murray Breetzke the visitors were under some pressure on 57-3. Mike Jones then took charge however and in an unbroken partnership of 111 with James Page, who played a very good supporting role, led Witchingham to victory in 35 overs with a fine 85 not out.