Cricklade followed up their terrific (but close) victory over Cam last week with another excellent batting performance leading to a comfortable win over in-form hosts Hardwicke.

Skipper Danny Lloyd won a rare toss and, in a break with tradition, decided to bat first on a flat wicket and on another steaming hot day in this glorious summer of cricket. As per last week, a very strong Cricklade XI set about their work with gusto and the innings got off to a great start with Lloyd (50) and Paul Paginton (85) putting on 125 for the first wicket. Rhys Mills (36) and Sam Pinchin (42) picked up the scoring rate before a late flurry of wickets saw the innings close on a very good total of 247 for 7 off the allotted 45 overs.

Despite the daunting total, and despite having bowled the opposition for 20 earlier in the season, Cricklade were wary of their young opponents, who were on an excellent run that had seen them rise to third in the table.

The returning Tom Davies bowled an excellent opening spell, taking an early wicket and restricting runs at one end, but thanks to a good knock from skipper Alex Lane (63) Hardwicke worked their way to a useful position of 111 for 2 after 25 overs, and the game was in the balance. Up stepped Angelo Rigali (still the best fat Italian slow bowler in Wiltshire) to turn the game decisively Cricklade’s way with a spell of 5 for 28 off 9 overs, supported by a good spell from James Barton, unlucky (again) to only take one wicket. Although they kept swinging to the end, Hardwicke fell 80 runs short of their target, ending on 167 all out in the 40th over.

Another excellent win then, continuing their excellent debut season in the GCCL, sees Cricklade extend their lead at the top of the table to a significant 27 points over Hatherley and Reddings. The boys will be keen to keep this run going into next week’s game at home to Charfield, one of the few sides to have beaten Cricklade this season.

Batsmen continued their dominance of the BigVan World Man of the Match award which this week went to Paul Paginton for his excellent knock of 85. Well batted!