FRINTON Cricket Club were pipped at the post on T20 Finals Day, in the Gibbs Denley East Anglian Premier League.

In what became a straight shoot-out against Swardeston – who will now go forward to the next stage of the national competition - they lost by 40 runs in a match played at Cambridge Granta on Sunday.

The Norfolk heavyweights won the toss, elected to bat and made 218 for five, despite three wickets for Robert Everson.

In reply, Frinton were all out for 178, with Miguel Machado finishing unbeaten on 100.

He clubbed eight fours and six sixes in his 56-ball innings but unfortunately eight of his team-mates were out for single figures, with the exceptions being James Baker (23) and Alex Price (16).

Earlier in the day, Frinton had defeated hosts Granta by seven wickets, largely thanks to Mervyn Westfield making 89 not out and Machado an unbeaten 44.

There were also two wickets apiece for Westfield, Baker and Sam Brynes.

Granta had also been due to play Swardeston but the match was voided after the Cambridge side fell foul of the ECB generic rule 3.6.5 by playing Michael Pepper.

Pepper was ineligible under ECB regulations because he recently made his debut for Essex in their County Championship game against Somerset.

The league therefore felt there was no alternative but to disqualify Granta.

Swardeston therefore had the big advantage of having to play only one game in the hot conditions.

Frinton, in contrast, played back-to-back matches.

Meanwhile, Frinton’s second team enjoyed a much-needed four-wicket success at home to Coggeshall on Saturday, in division one of the Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Championship.

After limiting their visitors to 213 for eight, they finished on 214 for six to pocket 19 points.

Frinton, who remain third from bottom in the table, have a crunch match at basement boys Elmstead – ironically the reigning champions – on Saturday.