WEPL Premier Two

Taunton 242-9 Lechlade 244-2

LECHLADE travelled to second-placed Taunton on Saturday, and enjoyed a comfortable eight-wicket victory.

The visitors lost the toss and took the field with eight men as the rest of the team were caught in traffic.

However, Lechlade were up to full strength after three overs, and set to work on Taunton’s batsmen, with Luke Sellers having Ben Phillips driving too early and being caught by Ryan Higgins.

George Webber and skipper Jack Cooper steadied the ship for Taunton, taking the score past 90, before Webber (31) was stumped by Sam Burdock off Ryan Higgins in the 20th over.

Higgins and Bradley Dial were bowling in tandem for the visitors, and their work slowed the Taunton scoring rate.

The deadly duo were eventually rewarded with a wicket apiece too, including a smart caught and bowled by Higgins.

Boundaries were in short supply, in spite of some sloppy ground fielding from Lechlade, and when Cooper was clean bowled by Sellers (3-46) for 89 Taunton had yet to reach 200.

Benny Ellis (3-42) took three wickets in six overs, but the tail still managed to push towards a competitive total of 242-9 in their 50 overs.

In Lechlade’s innings, youngster James Palmer struggled against former county bowler Ben Phillips, and was eventually taken at second slip for just a single run.

Sam Burdock (18) was going well at the other end, but was run out in a mix-up with Dial, leaving Lechlade on 56-2 off 17 overs.

Joe Breet joined Dial at the crease, and the two then gave a masterclass in how to chase down a total.

They pushed the ball around, constantly switching the strike, and punishing the odd bad ball.

Dial was dropped in the deep in his 80s, but Breet brought up his 50 with a glorious drive, and in the next over Dial reached his sixth century of the season with a six over mid-wicket.

Although more than 60 runs were still required in the last ten overs, Breet (79*) and Dial (130*) went into another gear and reached the total with almost four overs to spare.

The partnership of 188 had taken 184 balls in 96 minutes and took Lechlade into mid-table safety.