LECHLADE look to have secured their status in Premier Two after an impressive win at second-placed Taunton.

Despite having three men missing - caught in traffic on the M5 - when they took to the field, Joe Breet’s side were able to complete a commanding eight-wicket win.

Having held their hosts to 242-9 in their 50 overs, Lechlade’s overseas star Bradley Dial constructed the chase with an unbeaten 130, supported well by Breet’s 79 not out, to secure the win with 22 balls remaining.

“We are a talented side and on our day we can beat anybody,” said Breet. “I think it is only one team that goes down, because they have divided it into two competitions next year.

“We are sixth at the moment and I think that Shapwick & Polden are more than 40 points away, so I think we are secure on that.

“At the halfway mark we were thinking that they would get up to the 300 mark, but luckily enough they didn’t and we restricted them.

“We just batted well and knocked it off. I was just supporting Brad, who was batting well.”

Lechlade were back to full strength within three overs of the start and Luke Sellers soon had Ben Phillips driving too early and being caught by Ryan Higgins.

George Webber (31) and skipper Jack Cooper steadied the ship and took the score past 90 when the latter was stumped.

When Cooper was clean bowled by Sellers (3-46) for 89, Taunton had yet to reach 200.

Benny Ellis took three wickets in six overs, but Taunton’s tail still managed to post a competitive total of 242.

In reply, James Palmer struggled against former Somerset seamer Phillips and was eventually taken at second slip for just one run.

Sam Burdock (18) was going well at the other end but was then run out in a mix-up with Dial, leaving Lechlade on 56-2.

Breet then joined Dial who went on to claim his sixth century of the season with a six over mid-wicket.