Jack Beaumont was the only player from either side to score more than 40 runs, but his fine knock of 78 was not enough to prevent Copdock & Old Ipswichian from suffering an opening day four-wicket defeat to Frinton-on-Sea in the Gibbs Denley East Anglian Premier League on Saturday.

Frinton actually dropped Beaumont early on in his innings, and the Copdock No. 4 went on to strike 10 boundaries in his 92-ball stay.

However, with the exception of Harry Bailey (32), there was no support for Beaumont, who was eventually the ninth wicket to fall and the fourth to fall to Merv Westfield, with the score on 157. Beaumont and Bailey had put on 80 for the seventh wicket.

Copdock were duly bowled out for 163, with 11.2 overs of their allotted 50 overs left unbowled, Westfield taking four for 35 off eight overs.

Frinton reached their target for the loss of six wickets, with 11.1 overs to spare, despite only youngster Miguel Machado (39no) passing 30.

The experienced Michael Comber (26) and Alex Price (20) put on 53 for the first wicket, and all-rounder Westfield then contributed 26 off 29 balls, but it was Machado’s fine knock that ultimately frustrated Copdock.

“It was a low scoring game, but the wicket was true, although it was perhaps a little lower and slower than it should have been,” explained Frinton captain, Kyran Young.

“The low scoring was really down to players being a bit rusty after the long winter break, with all that rain. It will take a while to get into top gear.

“Merv (Westfield) bowled really well, and he would have been rewarded with five or six wickets, rather than just four, if our fielding had been up to scratch.

“We dropped Jack (Beaumont) early on, so we missed an opportunity to bowl out Copdock for a lot less.

“In reply, Michael (Comber) got one that rolled along the ground, while I dragged one on from my thigh pad around my legs, and Merv was done by a lack of bounce.

“But Miguel batted well. He played for the 2nds last year, but this was his debut for the 1st XI. He had been out to the Gary Kirsten Academy in South Africa over the winter, and this seems to have benefited him,” added Young.