PREMIER TWO GLOS/WILTS: Cheltenham success has Lechlade singing in the rain

The Manor Ground men headed to Victoria Park knowing a victory over their nearest challengers would all but seal a phenomenal season for their young side.

While Joe Breet was already showered, with his bag in his car following a lengthy rain delay, the Lechlade opener was delighted that he and his teammates had to head back into bat at 5pm.

“The cut off for a game is five,” Breet said. “I had showered, put my bag in the car and I was ready to head home – there was no way we were going back out there.

“But at five to five, the umpires said that we were going back out.

“This was a huge result and one that has really put us in a strong position (for the title).”

Before the rain came, Lechlade had struggled. Having lost the toss, the visitors limped to 28-3 from their opening 10 overs.

When the sides returned to the field, Freddie Martin’s side, led by a brilliant 66 from Benny Ellis, blasted 103 runs from their final 10 overs to post 131-5 from their 20 overs.

After Duckworth/Lewis revised Cheltenham’s target to 125 from 20, Martin, who was the pick of the bowling with 3-27, and his side restricted the host to 116-9.

“It was probably the best performance with the ball and in field I have seen in club cricket,” Breet said.

“To score 103 runs off 60 balls was superb and it really did give the bowlers a total to defend.”

The win over Cheltenham saw Lechlade open up a 30-point lead at the summit with two games to play.

The Manor Ground side, who won the old Wiltshire Division in 2012 and the Glos/Wilts crown in 2014, will have high hopes of being able to lift the title on Saturday when they host bottom-of-the-table Warminster.

“I’m the oldest player in this side at 36, then we have got Tom Young. I think he is 25 or 26 and the rest are all under 22,” Breet said.

“These young lads are playing without any fear, and while you can’t take any team for granted, I’d like to think that it is looking good for us.”