LECHLADE opener Joe Breet feels his team should be pleased with how they have begun life in Premier One.

The young Manor Ground side sent out a message to the rest of the division on Saturday as they toppled leaders Downend by 64 runs on their own patch.

With steady batting throughout the innings, former skipper Breet (40) and Tom Young (25) set the tone as they put on 67 for the opening wicket.

Brad Dial played a watchful knock as he struck a 55-ball 37, while Benny Ellis hit a 38-ball 39 as Lechlade were bowled for 232 with the penultimate ball of the innings.

Patrick Griesharber and Brandon Gilmore got Downend off to a good start taking the score to 61 in the 13th over before Chris Harwood was forced out of the attack with a side strain.

Lechlade skipper Freddie Martin then brought himself into the attack and accounted for the two openers.

Despite some resistance from Daniel Lezar (34) and Oliver Reynolds-Prongle’s unbeaten 31, Downend were bowled out in the 40th over for 168.

“I think we did pretty well to get 232, but I’m sure that Downend would have felt that it was a score that was within their grasp,” Breet said. “I think they didn’t apply themselves and we took full advantage of that with the ball and we deserved our win.

“When we have our best XI available to us we can compete with anyone in this league and we did that on Saturday.

“We do struggle in the first half of the season being such a young side with people like Freddie at uni, Tom Young also at university in Cardiff and Harvey Jupp is doing his GCSEs.

“Considering all that we have to be pleased with how we have started – we are punching above our weight.”