BRAD Dial blasted a brilliant unbeaten century but it was still not enough to prevent Lechlade from falling to a fifth loss in eight Premier One games this summer as they were beaten at Frocester.

Dial was not the only player to enjoy batting on the Pounds Close pitch as the hosts boasted two centurions in their mammoth innings of 385-6 to set up themselves up for a 114-run victory, a result that pushes Lechlade into the bottom two in the table.

Opener Ross Martin showed exactly why the hosts opted to bat first after winning the toss as he soon laid siege to the Lechlade attack, eventually falling to Ryan Higgins for 176.

He received valuable support from captain Nick Trainor (103) as Frocester set their visitors a daunting total, while Lechlade skipper Freddie Martin and Liam Smith took two wickets each.

Despite the huge task ahead of the visitors, number three batsman Dial was determined to make a game of it and put together a resolute knock of 149 not out to keep his side in with an outside chance.

However, support from the rest of the order was not forthcoming and Smith (32) was the only other batsman to outscore the 26 extras Frocester conceded as the Lechlade response ended on 271.

Tom Drake led the home attack with 3-51 as they bowled out Martin’s men in the 41st over.