WITH a new first team skipper, and new overseas recruit, Lowestoft Town cricket club are looking forward to the new season.And it has already begun in style for Lowestoft - with captain Matt Reid overseeing victory in the club's first pre-season friendly of the campaign on Sunday.

WITH a new first team skipper, and new overseas recruit, Lowestoft Town cricket club are looking forward to the new season.

And it has already begun in style for Lowestoft - with captain Matt Reid overseeing victory in the club's first pre-season friendly of the campaign on Sunday.

Lowestoft beat a strong Topcroft side by 20 runs - and after arriving in the country just a couple of days before the match, new South African recruit Mpho Sekhoto was quickly in action batting low down the order at eight and hitting 13 runs, while he took a catch and a wicket as he settled into local action.

The 28-year-old right-hand batsman and right hand off-break bowler is a former South Africa Academy player. Having most recently represented Easterns in the first-class cricket, he batted at four and scored 67 in the drawn match with Griqualand West in the CSA Provincial three-day league.

Lowestoft's man of the match on Sunday was teenage opener Joe Larter, who produced a solid innings with a good array of shots in his 55. Matt Patnell, Harvey Hebditch and Billy Brice hit quickfire 20s in the Town total of exactly 200 from their 40 overs.

In reply, a belligerent, fantastic innings of 99 from J Goodfellow kept Topcroft in touch but excellent bowling from Tommy Brice (3-14 off eight overs) at the start and end of the innings was added to by two wickets for Hebditch, a run out and a wickjet apiece for Reid, Billy Brice and Sekhoto as Topcrfot closed on 180-9.

With Lowestoft starting outdoor net sessions now outdoors at their Denes Oval headquarters, training takes place every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday for the whole club from next week.

And new first team captain, Matt Reid, admitted that attendance at indoor nets had been good and added: 'Now that we are moving outside, we have the facilities and qualified coaches to improve everyone's all round game.

The attendance from players needs to be of a consistent high level for the sessions to be a success - this season captains will be working with the coaches to plan the training to get the most out of the session.'

With Tuesday evenings being the main senior training sessions, the club captains are 'looking for everyone to attend' to ensure 'quality training.'

Lowestoft continue their pre-season friendly campaign, with a tough game away at Garboldisham on Sunday, after tomorrow's scheduled clash at Vauxhall Mallards was called off.