LECHLADE are riding the crest of a wave after ascending to the top of the Premier Two Glos/Wilts table with their fifth win on the spin.

As then-leaders Cheltenham suffered a heavy seven-wicket defeat at Biddestone, the Manor Ground side were busy maintaining their impressive form by chasing down a total of more than 300 runs to beat Chippenham by five wickets at home.

Skipper Freddie Martin is delighted to see his side sitting pretty at the head of affairs but is convinced that his team aren’t counting their chickens just yet.

“It’s not a surprise that we’ve got to the top of the table because we’ve been playing very well but we’re only about halfway through the season, so we’re not getting carried away.

“We’ve just got to concentrate on the next game and take it from there,” said Martin.

“All season, all 11 players have been able to contribute and some of the younger lads, who maybe didn’t contribute as much as they’d have like to last year, have all stepped up.

“It was a very good result on Saturday.

“The track was great and they took advantage of it but at half-time, we felt that 300 was probably a par score.

“We were confident that we could win the game from there and we managed to do that – it was a very good run-chase.”

Chippenham won the toss and opted to bat first on an inviting wicket, although openers Aaron Merryweather and Oliver Jones were only able to make 14 and 25 respectively.

However, the visitors’ Darryl Losper came in at number three and anchored his team’s innings with an impressive knock of 121 from 114 deliveries, with captain Brad Dawson also weighing in with 64 as Chippenham posted 302-6, Brad Dial taking 3-36.

Not to be discouraged, James Palmer and Dial led the way for the Lechlade, with both contributing with scores of 66.

Benny Ellis chipped in with 59 and captain Martin wasn’t able to reach the half-century mark but he stood unbeaten on 47 as the hosts reached 303-5 with three balls to spare.