MAX Dawe lauded the rapid transition of Alastair Killham from fringe player to integral batsman after the opener’s second consecutive league half-century helped Lechlade to victory over Malmesbury in the WEPL Wiltshire Division on Saturday.

Killham’s knock of 82 may have been overshadowed by Paul Godding’s blistering 165 not out, but it is the former’s rapid recent improvements with the bat which have caught teammate Dawe’s eyes of late.

The youngster struggled at the crease in the early season, and was relegated to the second team for a number of fixtures to gain form.

And in the end that paid off, as Lechlade have found out to their benefit in the past month.

“When we played Malmesbury in the reverse fixture, he was originally going to play in the seconds but someone got injured and he came in, got 50 and it’s gone on from there,” Dawe told the Advertiser.

“He’s shown himself to be a genuine opener, which is somewhere we’ve had a shortage of players for recently.

“He’s batting really well and hopefully that will continue for as long as possible.”

Batting first, Lechlade suffered a double early blow, with first Michael Birtwistle and then Matt Stringfellow dismissed before reaching double figures.

For most of the season, Stringfellow has been the talisman. The three centuries to his name have contributed to claims Lechlade are a one-man band.

But on Saturday, Godding disproved that theory.

Nailing 18 fours and eight maximums, mostly over cover and extra cover, the all-rounder accelerated through the gears until he totally burnt Malmesbury out.

Accumulating sensible runs in the initial moments of his innings, Godding reached 50 off 51 balls but then the fireworks started.

His next 50 came off just 32 deliveries and he finished with an unbeaten 165 from just 110. A quite astonishing knock.

Dawe branded it as one of the best innings ever played at the Manor Ground - and with good cause.

“He was batting so well, and just hitting the ball everywhere,” said Dawe.

“He was dominating and it was great to see.

“When Matt was out early I think Malmesbury thought they had got the important wicket.

“But we’re not just reliant on one player, we’re a team and we showed that.”

Kieran Gandhi produced a blitzkrieg 35 from 14 balls to curtail the innings with a flourish, leaving Malmesbury the somewhat mountainous total of 326 to chase down after tea.

In the event, they could not even get close.

The top five all got starts without being able to go on, with Nick Jones’ 31 the best effort.

And when they were out, the tail imploded thanks to the medium pace of Ross Jeffels, who snagged 6-33 - his best figures of the campaign.

“It was a shame we didn’t bowl them out for less than 120 because we really could have done with the extra two bonus points,” said Dawe.

“We’re still hoping we can pip Winsley to promotion. We know we can beat them when we play them, we just need a favour from elsewhere.”

  • NATHAN Sheffield is likely to get a lengthy run in the Nationwide House first team, after taking four wickets in the WEPL Wiltshire Division defeat to Winsley on Saturday.

Sheffield’s medium-pace seamers, along with skipper Joe Perkins’ similar brand of swingers, brought Winsley back to earth with a bump after Charlie Holton had handed the visitors a blistering start at Pipers Way.

Holton’s ruthless 97 contained 16 fours and two maximums before he was caught by Jon Clarke off Perkins, but by then he had helped the score onto 140-0 within 24 overs.

Sides with lesser character may have been beaten, by Nationwide dug in and, thanks to Sheffield and Perkins, dismissed their guests for just 107 runs more.

And the performance of Sheffield drew special praise from his captain.

“Nathan’s come up to the firsts and he’s bowled really well and will definitely be getting a decent stretch in the team now this season,” he said.

“We were struggling a bit early on and it was looking bad, but we got ourselves back into it.

“Winsley have a great team and they will be deserved title winners this season.”

In reply, Jon and Nick Clarke put on 48 together before Nick was lbw to Andrew Swinburne and, although Jon and showed signs of dominance once he was gone with the score at 61 Nationwide were well off the pace.

Darren Milne dug in for an obstinate 25, but it was never going to be enough.

“It is the end of our little run of wins but now we can start again,” said Perkins.

“We have to look forward now positively to the games we’ve got coming up.”

  • NATIONWIDE House moved into second place in the Monahans Swindon Midweek Cricket League Division 1 after beating White Horse by 14 runs at Manor Farm.

Batting first, Nationwide hit 150-9 with Jon Clarke firing 46 and Mark Watling claiming 4-29 with the ball.

In reply, White Horse fell just short. Sam Morshead top scored with 34 but the hosts could not overhaul their target.

Wootton Bassett eased to a win over Nalgo, knocking off the 105 runs needed for victory for the loss of just one wicket.

In Division 2 the title race intensified, as Lydiard lead the way by just two points from Intel, Purton A and Motorola.

Purton A beat Lydiard on Thursday, setting a target of 130 and restricting Lydiard to 91-8.

Motorola saw off Intel despite R Taylor smashing 58 in Intel’s innings of 126-6.

After a slow start it looked like Motorola would have difficulty making it to the total, but J Khan transformed the game with a superb 78 not out to help Motorola through to an eight-wicket win in the final over.

Wroughton Wranglers 2 beat Haydon Wick in a close-run match. Wick were restricted to 94, which Wroughton only managed to chase down with three balls remaining.

Second-placed Gamcom beat leaders RWE NPower in Division 3.

NPower’s first defeat of the season came after they posted a small target of 111. Gamcom’s openers started fiercely in reply, and M Deegultla’s 49 made victory come quickly and without too much difficulty. A Ruxton’s 3-27 with the ball was insufficient for RWE.

Anchor limped to 88 against Ashbury, who scored the required runs at a canter.

Monahans blew Purton B away, bowling their opponents out for just 32, as R Loveday took 5-21, and knocking off the runs for the loss of four wickets.

A three-way title tussle exists in Division 4 after Mannington United beat SBC Capita in the top-of-the-table clash.

United scored 115 batting first, and in reply Capita could only manage 111.

Coastal Cobras beat SIA & Drs. SIA hit 114 from their overs as Satish top scored with 25 and D Novais took 4-32.

Cobras eased to victory with five wickets remaining thanks in part to R Fernandes’ 27.

Swindon Academy beat KC Globe, chasing down Globe’s 105 for the loss of four wickets.

McGinley took 3-31 for Academy and Waters claimed 2-39 for Globe.