LECHLADE’S Freddie Martin has taken captaincy in his stride after guiding his side to a 181-run victory over Chippenham.

In his first game in charge of the Premier Two Glos/Wilts side, Lechlade won the toss and opted to bat first, with 83 from Joe Breet and 112 from Bradley Dial putting the visitors in a commanding position as they closed on 335 for the loss of just three wickets.

Chippenham struggled in their reply as they failed to muster up any meaningful partnerships and were skittled out for 154 in less than 36 overs to hand Martin his first victory in charge.

“It was a great start and as good as we could have wished for,” he said.

“Breet batted really well, scoring 80-odd in the end. He got off to a slow start but showed us, once he gives himself a bit of time, how good of a player he is.

“He was backed up really well by Tom Young, who he opened with.

“Once Young went, Brad came in and batted awesomely again, scoring another hundred.

“He is great to watch. He is a brilliant player and it is nice to watch him score runs.

“It does help having his runs but it is not all built around him.

“Ben Ellis came in and scored a good knock and batted well, but it definitely does help when Brad is on fire.

“I think it was an above-par target that we set but we did have to go out and bowl and field well because we knew they had a dangerous batting line-up.”

Liam Smith was the pick of the bowlers for Lechlade as he took 5-34 from his eight overs, claiming the scalps of five of Chippenham’s top six batsman.

The 19-year-old Herefordshire minor counties player was playing his first game for the club and Martin, who is only 20 himself, says that youth in the side makes for an exciting time at the Manor Ground.

“Liam Smith tore through their top order as he took five wickets in his first five overs,” he added.

“That ripped the heart out of their battling line-up really and was a great start for us.

“It was his first league game for us and he is only 19, so he is a great player to have on board.

“It is really exciting because we thought, going into the season, that the side was strong and it was backed up by that opening performance.”