ANOTHER efficient team performance by Lechlade on Saturday saw the riverside club secure a six wicket victory at Westbury and extend their lead at the top of the Glos/Wilts Division to 10 points over second-placed Rockhampton.

WEPL Glos/Wilts Division

Westbury 166 all out

Lechlade 167-4

All-round team bowling and batting performances showed Lechlade’s overall class against a lacklustre Westbury side who are now facing a tough relegation battle following another home defeat.

Lechlade having lost the toss found themselves in the field on a very hot afternoon and were toiling under the sun as Westbury built a big start reaching 99-1 after 16 overs thanks to an impressive innings by Rob Hislop on his return to the Westbury team.

However, when Joe Breet, returning to his old club, dismissed Simon Rose for 28 the Westbury collapse started. Paul Godding then picked up the first of his four wickets when he trapped Dan Gill LBW for 0 and when he followed up with the dismissal of Hislop (69) three overs later Westbury were on the ropes at 118-4.

Godding caused difficulties with his skiddy, accurate bowling with the Westbury batsmen finding it very difficult to play his slower ball. Lechlade capitalised on the scoreboard pressure with Westbury losing their last six wickets for 48 runs. Godding finished with 4-24 off his 10 overs.

The Lechlade stalwart was supported by the rest of the bowling unit as Michael Craigs, Luke Sellers, Breet and Vitanage all picked up wickets as Westbury collapsed to 166 all out

Lechlade in reply opened with Freddie Martin and Brad Dial and despite the loss of Dial quickly in the sixth over for 10 Lechlade never looked to be in any trouble.

Breet replaced Dial and shared in partnerships with Martin (37) and Arran Dickinson (75) before being dismissed for 64. Dickinson and Oli Thornley added a further 22 before Dickinson’s (38) dismissal.

Lechlade then coasted to victory with Thornley and Godding seeing Lechlade home without further loss in the 44th over.

Lechlade captain Breet said: The game could have got away from us in the first innings at 99-1 but the bowling unit focused on the job at hand and were rewarded for all their hard work. "Godders stepped up to the mark and bowled well in the conditions. I think we fully deserved our six-wicket win.”