STILL struggling with school and university absences Lechlade entertained Corsham on Saturday with a rather depleted side.

Corsham won the toss and decided to bat first.

George Leakey soon had Tom Abbott caught behind by James Palmer but Tom Smith was beginning to dominate the bowling which was guilty of too many bad balls.

With Simon Taylor (4-34) joining the attack Lechlade began to make inroads into the Corsham batting, including the wicket of Smith, but not before he had plundered 83 runs from 63 balls.

At 177-7, Lechlade were well in the game but some sensible batting from the tail enabled Corsham to reach 251 all out in the final over.

Lechlade made a fairly disastrous start losing Leakey, Dial, Martin and Ellis for single figures and when Palmer went for 25 the home side had slipped to 53-5 and the game was effectively over.

Newcomers Freddie Tucker (50) and Angus Bartlett (28) provided some entertaining resistance and helped Lechlade to a second batting point but were eventually bowled out for 162 in the 36th over.

Some encouraging signs but Lechlade will have to produce a far more impressive performance at League leaders, Cheltenham this week to have any chance of recording their first win.