CRICKET: Last wicket stand of 94 earns Lechlade colossal victory (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Stenner defies broken thumb to put Lechlade top of table

8:10am Tuesday 28th August 2012 in Sport

West Of England Premier League (Wiltshire Division).

Great Bedwyn v Lechlade.

Great Bedwyn 171-9. Lechlade 173-9. LECHLADE used their get-out-of-jail-free card on Saturday when they beat fellow title challengers Great Bedwyn by one wicket to go top of the league.

The game ebbed and flowed with both teams taking it in turns to take the upper hand in what for Lechlade was a must-win game.

Lechlade won the toss and couldn’t have asked for a better start when the Great Bedwyn openers, Josh Quinn and Daniel Swatton, were both dismissed in the first over with only two runs on the board.

Quinn was run out by Joe Griffin and Swatton was trapped LBW by Paul Godding, both for 0.

The dismissals brought the Palmer brothers to the wicket and Rob very quickly regained control. With John playing the support role, the pair gradually built a partnership of 107 before John was bowled by Godding for 27.

With wickets hard to come by, captain Godding introduced Arran Dickinson to the attack and he duly obliged picking up three quick wickets. Rob Palmer was first, caught by Adrian Stenner in the deep for 77 and then Richard Bosson was stumped by Adam Clatworthy for 24 before Max Andrews went for two, caught by Ross Jeffels.

Luke Sellers then picked up three wickets at the end as the home side closed on 171-9 with Lechlade very much in the driving seat.

Lechlade nervously set about chasing down the modest target and when Ali Killham was caught by Justine Bailey off Max Andrews for 0, the jitters began.

Dickinson followed Killham back to the pavilion for 0 and when Godding was trapped LBW for 14, Lechlade were wobbling at 20-3.

Great Bedwyn sensed their opportunity and ripped through the Lechlade batting. Sellers and Max Dawe were both trapped LBW for 0 and 4 respectively. Jeffels showed some brief resistance but when he was caught for 24 the wickets of Adam Clatworthy 1, Griffin 2, and Will Bowers 1 all fell quickly and Lechlade had been reduced to 79-9.

Stenner, batting down the order as a consequence of his broken thumb, had watched from the other end as four wickets had fallen since his arrival at the crease.

Stenner was joined by Anthony Pettifer with an unlikely 93 runs required for victory and one wicket remaining.

The pair slowly regained control although there were some nervous moments and Stenner was dropped twice on his way to an unbeaten 83 off 88 balls.

Pettifer held up his end superbly, contributing eight runs off 45 balls to the tenth wicket partnership of 94 as Lechlade came across the line with eight overs to spare.

The win takes Lechlade to the top of the WEPL Wiltshire Division equal on points with Burbage & Easton Royal but top by virtue of winning more games. Lechlade captain Paul Godding said: “It was just unbelievable. Stenner and Pettifer really got us out of a situation today. We now go into the last Saturday (at home to Wotton Bassett) top of the table with everything to play for.”