LECHLADE secured a 70-run win at Chipping Sodbury on Saturday in a low-scoring encounter, but it was enough to keep them top of the Glos Wilts Division.

WEPL Glos Wilts Div

Chipping Sodbury 114 out

Lechlade 184 all out

Having won the toss Lechlade elected to bat first and following the late withdrawal of Oli Thornley due to injury they opened with Asanka Vithanage as a pinch hitter.

He and Brad Dial got off to steady starts, but as Vithanage (13) started to open up he was caught with the score on 38 and when Dial (25) was dismissed nine balls later Lechlade were on the back foot.

Joe Breet (24) and Will Nichols (13) put on a further 34 before they were both dismissed within four balls of each other.

Arran Dickinson then took the lead role, batting with growing confidence, although wickets fell at regular intervals at the other end, Lechlade adding only 19 runs for the last four wickets to finish on 184.

Dickinson's 64 came off 73 balls in 87 minutes and included five sixes and three fours.

The Lechlade bowling attack quickly set about the Chipping Sodbury batsmen. Michael Craigs dismissed Brian Jater in the second over without scoring. He then picked up the wicket of Jamie Rendell for two and Chipping Sodbury were under pressure.

Luke Sellers from the other end had the batsmen playing and missing without success, only conceding 11 runs off his opening spell of six overs.

Nichols was next to make the breakthrough, picking up the wickets of Jake Read and Craig Scully and when Vithanage dismissed Chris Willoughby for 24 the hosts were 60-5 and in trouble.

Despite the best efforts of Dan Clarke who hit 39 off 42 balls, before being spectacularly caught by Godding in the deep, Lechlade picked up the last five wickets for 53 runs to dismiss Chipping Sodbury for 114.

Vithanage finished with match figures of 4-26.

Lechlade captain Joe Breet said: “Arran (Dickinson) batted with great responsibility and helped us post a respectable score and gave the bowlers something to attack. "The bowlers bowled well as a unit with Michael and Luke putting the batsmen under great pressure from the outset which allowed Willy, Sanks and Tris (Nichols, Vithanage and Hawkes) to clean up at the end. All in all, I am very pleased with the result.”