WEPL Premier Two

Weston-super-Mare 178-5; Lechlade 174-6

A MAKESHIFT Lechlade team, due to lack of availability and injuries, were unable to cope with a strong Weston outfit on Saturday.

The situation was not improved when overseas player Brad Dial’s tendon problem meant he was unable to bat effectively.

On an overcast day Joe Breet lost the toss and for the second week running was asked to bat on a lively pitch.

They also found themselves facing former Somerset pace bowler Charles Willoughby who was soon causing Lechlade all sorts of problems.

Paul Godding, promoted to open in the absence of Gloucestershire county player Miles Hammond, dug in but Willoughby (2-17) removed Benny Ellis for one, and his fellow South African Breet for a first-ball duck.

At the other end Willoughby was well supported by Stringer (1-41) who clean-bowled Oli Thornley. Returning to the side after illness, Ryan Higgins stayed with Godding for a while but change bowler Fear (2-25) removed him for 11.

Shortly before drinks Godding (33), trying to improve the scoring rate, holed out at mid-off to the same bowler and when Jay Goddard was clean-bowled in the following over Lechlade had slumped to 67-6 at drinks.

Against some steady bowling second team skipper Charles Offord, promoted for the day, and Dial set about reviving the innings.

With Dial virtually playing one-handed progress was slow and it took until the 40th over for the hundred to come up. With the introduction of the spinners, Dial and Offord began to prosper and by the end of the 50 overs had taken the score to 174-6, probably not enough but at least a total to defend.

Remarkably Dial (53*) took his runs to more than 650 for the season and his average to 130, while Offord finished on 39* and played an invaluable supporting role.

Tristan Hawkes removed Weston’s young opener in his first over but again the Lechlade attack lacked real penetration.

Andy Fear completed a good match with 81* and although Sellers, Novais, Higgins and Godding all picked up a wicket they could not apply sufficient pressure on the Weston batsmen and they completed their comfortable victory by five wickets with more than 10 overs to spare.

On Sunday Lechlade defeated Bishopston by four wickets in a Gloucestershire Cup run-fest.

Benny Ellis scored 133 and Joe Breet 114 as Lechlade reached their target of 321 with six wickets to spare.

On Saturday the 2nd XI chased down a revised target 205, thanks to 72* from Mohan Balusu and four wickets from Tom Barnes, in a rain-affected game against Great Bedwyn. They retain their leadership of the Wiltshire 2nd XI Division.