WEPL Premier Two

Lechlade 175 all out; Taunton 181-5

AN under-strength Lechlade side could not set a big enough target against Taunton in a match reduced to 45 overs due to the Saturday morning rain.

Joe Breet found his Lechlade team being asked to bat when he would have preferred to have bowled in the conditions.

Makeshift openers Kam Shah and Freddie Martin were soon back in the pavilion and, with the ball seaming around, the prospects were not good.

It was deja vu for the Lechlade team as Brad Dial settled in at the crease looking for someone to stay with him.

Oli Thornley (20), returning to the team after exams, looked good for a while and took the score to 37, but he was then bowled by a good ball from James Dickens (2-31).

Breet (22) also looked to have found some form again but with the score on 94 nicked one to the keeper. With wickets continuing to tumble Dial went on the offensive and unlike his team-mates rarely looked in trouble.

At 132-8 after 34 overs Dial started to farm the strike. He put on 17 with Luke Sellers and had added 26 with David Novais, who didn’t face a ball, when, in sight of a third century this season, he was bowled round his legs for 98.

The Lechlade attack was without the injured Paul Godding and Miles Hammond, who had been called up at the last minute for Gloucestershire’s T20 clash with Middlesex.

Freddie Martin stepped up to take the new ball and within two overs had picked up both openers. However, this brought Josh Kelly (55) and Jack Cooper (59) to the wicket and they began to repair the damage.

None of the Lechlade bowlers really threatened and the third-wicket partnership of 122 off 145 balls effectively sealed Lechlade’s fate.

Luke Sellers (2-52) returned for a second spell and removed both batsmen within an over but Taunton’s victory was never in doubt. A third wicket for Martin (3-41) could not stop a convincing five-wicket victory for the visitors who cemented their place at the top of the table.

Lechlade will hope to have a full strength side for their visit to Weston-super-Mare on Saturday and they will also hope for a dry, hard track for their batsmen to return to form and give Dial some much needed support.

The 2nd XI game at Trowbridge was called off because of the weather but they retain their place at the top of the Wiltshire Division.