CRICKET: While Thurston keep on winning, their challengers at the top of the Suffolk Premier Division cannot keep pace. Thurston, promoted from the Intermediate Division with an unbeaten record last season, just keep on going, although they had to survive a few scares before chalking up win number eight at home to Stowupland on Saturday.

CRICKET

WHILE Thurston keep on winning, their challengers at the top of the Suffolk Premier Division cannot keep pace.

Thurston, promoted from the Intermediate Division with an unbeaten record last season, just keep on going, although they had to survive a few scares before chalking up win number eight at home to Stowupland on Saturday.

Felixstowe Corinthians, meanwhile, who had matched them with seven wins out of seven, slumped to a four-wicket defeat at Walsham, while third-placed Eye lost at Tuddenham as the home side at last got to grips with Suffolk Premier League cricket.

It was another busy day for Thurston skipper Martyn Wilkins. He bowled throughout at one end, finishing with figures of three for 87 from 22 overs as Stowupland posted 188 for six. Peter Whitefield (50) and Gavin Johnson (49) were the leading scorers for the visitors.

Thurston's long unbeaten run looked in danger as they lost four cheap wickets, but then Martyn Wilkins (53) and his brother Richard (34) put the innings back on course.

Both fell the same way, stumped by Jeff Lewis off John Grant, who was to finish with five for 80, but then P Cook (42 not out) and D Cobourne (24 not out) guided Thurston to a four-wicket win with nine balls to spare.

Mark Rothon (five for 42) and S Miller (two for 36) kept the Corinthians batsmen quiet, and then O Taylor grabbed three for eight to bring matters to a swift conclusion. The final tally was just 89 from 35.3 overs, with Neil Radford (33) and Chris Dunnett (10) the only players to get into double figures.

Radford snapped up two quick wickets as Walsham replied, but then the patient John Wright (31 not out) dropped anchor to set up the win. Nigel Bryant (25) and Paul Newman (22) helped out as Corinthians battled hard to preserve their unbeaten record in their Golden Jubilee season. They kept Walsham working hard for 41.3 overs before accepting defeat.

Tuddenham were relegated from the Two Counties last season and had made an inauspicious start to life back in the Suffolk Premier League. On Saturday, however, Kevin Poole (80) and David Cross (47) got them moving and an unbroken eighth-wicket partnership between Mike Blows (27 not out) and Sean Licence (37 not out) carried them to a final tally of 251 for seven.

Christian Whiting replied with a half-century for Eye, but they were never in the hunt and ended on 133 for nine with three wickets each for David Cross, Ashley Smith and Mark Rider.

Worlingworth were also in the runs at home to nine-man Bourne Vale. Openers Dave Courteen (96) and Eric Davy (105) laid the foundations for a total of 266 for seven, while Ian Fraser's 57 was the highlight of the Ipswich team's reply.

Bottom team Nowton lost at Woodbridge School. They were all out for 149 (Paul Ray five for 38) and Peter Taylor (79) and Adi Barham (41) gave Woodbridge the start they needed to secure a seven-wicket success.

Worlington II became the first team to beat Bury St Edmunds III in the Intermediate Division. It was quite a match, with a great finish. Kevin Lister (32) and Dan Peachey (40) gave Worlington a good start but the rest of the innings folded to 138 for nine as Kris Butler collected seven for 33.

The Bury openers also started well enough, with Peter Woods scoring 28 and Stuart Fisher 27. Then, again, the innings began to slide against Sean Lister (four for 38) and Kevin Lister (three for 18). When last man Mike Berry was adjudged lbw against Kevin Lister Bury were all out for 135, losing by just three runs.

Stradbroke's talented teenagers all played their part in the nine-wicket win over Kedington. Chris Hull (16) took four for 25 while Tim Courridge (15) only conceded 19 runs in his 14 overs as Kedington were held to 109 for eight. Then brothers Donovan Steward (19), who scored 50 not out, and Tristan Steward (14), who scored 38, set up the big win.

Kesgrave moved up two places with a 130-run win over Sudbury Police, who dropped to the bottom. Dave Porter's 73 pushed the Kesgrave total up to 238 for seven, then Dave Healy took four for 18 as the Police were bowled out for 108 in reply.