CRICKET: Lechlade new boy Dickinson hits second match-winning knock in as many games (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Lechlade's Dickinson turns the knife against former team Marlborough

4:33pm Monday 28th May 2012 in Sport

West of England Premier Wiltshire Division.

Lechlade 211-3.

Marlborough 210-8.

LECHLADE bounced back from last week’s defeat to Marshfield with an emphatic seven-wicket win over Marlborough.

An unbeaten 70 from former Marlborough captain Arran Dickinson saw his new club cruise home with 17 overs to spare, having earlier restricted the visitors to 210-8.

Dickinson’s innings – scored at better than a run a ball – followed an unbeaten century on debut last week.

Lechlade’s first win of 2012 came after losing the toss and being asked to field in near perfect batting conditions.

But two early wickets from home skipper Paul Godding quickly put Marlborough on the back foot.

Despite solid resistance, including an unbeaten 43 from George Fox, the visitors were never able to dominate a Lechlade attack in which debutant spinner Rahul Dhyani posted 3-48.

In reply, Lechlade got off to a flier with Adrian Stenner smashing a quick-fire 53 off just 38 balls. Such was Stenner’s dominance that when the 50 partnership came up, opening partner Ali Kilham had contributed just one.

Kilham (seven) became the first wicket to fall, bowled by Will Langton with the score on 67. And when Stenner (53) followed, Lechlade’s innings threatened to come off the rails.

But with in-form Dickinson and Paul Loxton at the crease, the home side carried on where Stenner had left off, adding 71 in double-quick time before Loxton fell to Ben Head for 29.

Again the wicket did little to slow the run-chase as Adam Clatworthy (25) saw his side home alongside Dickinson.

Lechlade coach Luke Sellers said: “It is only our second game of the season and although we still need to improve our discipline with the ball and in the field, our batters played superbly and there are lots of good signs.

“We are a new side and, having missed out on our pre-season matches and first two league games due to the weather, we are still getting into our stride. But we are moving in the right direction and our best is still to come.”