LECHLADE closed the gap between themselves and current WEPL Glos/Wilts Division leaders Biddestone to just one point with an emphatic eight-wicket win over Painswick at the Manor Ground on Saturday.

The visitors won the toss and decided to bat first and the Painswick opening pair of Jonathon Griffiths and Adam Armistead got off to a good steady start, taking the score to 40 before Luke Sellers made the initial breakthrough when he had Armistead caught in the slips by Joe Breet in the 11th over.

From that point on Painswick wickets fell at regular intervals as the Lechlade spin duo of Asanka Vithanage and Arnie Yugaraja pressurised the away side’s batting in an 18-over spell, during which they only managed to score 34 runs for the loss of four wickets. Painswick found Vithanage especially difficult to play and score off, with the Sri Lankan ending with figures of 3-9 from his 10 overs.

A seventh-wicket partnership of 46 between Jonathan Hylands and Dan Cave eased the pressure somewhat for the visitors but, when Cave was stumped by Sam Burdock off Will Nichols, their resistance crumbled.

The Lechlade bowlers then finished off the Painswick tail for the addition of only 24 more runs to set themselves a target of 148 for victory.

Lechlade set about chasing down the small target in a positive fashion and, despite an early setback when they lost Freddie Martin lbw to Adam Armistead for a duck, they looked comfortable.

Burdock and Yugaraja both batted freely to take the score to 110 and Burdock looked certain to secure his half century when he was trapped in front by Mike King for 47.

Breet then joined Yugaraja at the crease and the pair saw Lechlade home in the 28th over without further loss. Yugaraja finished 46 not out.

Lechlade captain Paul Godding said after the game: “After losing the toss we probably couldn’t have had things go much better for us today.

“The bowling unit knuckled down in conditions that clearly favoured the batsmen and they all did a good job.

“Sanks (Vithanage) was outstanding with the ball and Sam and Arnie saw us home with the bat without any real difficulty.

“All in all I am very pleased with today’s performance and result.”