LECHLADE were well and truly beaten by nine wickets in their Glos/Wilts derby clash with Swindon on Saturday at the Manor Ground.

WEPL Glos Wilts Division

Lechlade 120 all out

Swindon 121-1

Lechlade having won the toss elected to bat first and were quickly regretting their decision after their South African opening batsman Brad Dial was clean-bowled first ball by Matthew Kidd.

The Lechlade top and middle order batsmen all found batting difficult and were all dispatched to the pavilion with only 51 runs on the board within the first 12 overs of the Lechlade innings. Kidd bowling accurately took 4-17 in his first six overs which also saw him clean bowl Joe Breet and Arran Dickinson as well as trapping Ali Killham LBW.

Lechlade’s lower order and tail then mounted a mini recovery of sorts with Oli Thornley, Asanka Vithanage, Michael Craigs and Tris Hawkes adding 69 before the home side were dismissed for 120 in just 29 overs.

Swindon openers Marc Williamson and Adam Tucker in reply never really looked to be in any difficulty and were coasting to an impressive away win when Lechlade’s ex-Swindon stalwart Will Nichols picked up a consolation wicket when he bowled Tucker in the 18th over for 37. Tucker was replaced at the crease by Jon Sore who carried on in the same vein.

Williamson and Sore saw Swindon home to a sensational nine-wicket win six overs later with both batsmen not out 30 and 28 respectively.

Lechlade captain Joe Breet said: “I think it is fair to say it was a very bad day at the office for us. "Swindon were clearly the better team and they fully deserved their win. As a team we performed very badly and got from the game exactly what we deserved – nothing.”

Lechlade now trail new Glos/Wilts division leaders Rockhampton by one point following the latter's surprise defeat by Biddestone. These results have now blown the division wide open as only 15 points separate the top five in the division.