This paper is concerned with the numerical simulation of the propagating one-dimensional laminar cylindrical premixed flame. As the cylindrical flame moves outwardly from the center, it is subjected to positive stretch. The dependence of flame speed ratio for CH4-air mixture is examined for several fuel/air ratios and stretch level. The numerical result for cylindrical flame exhibits a linear relationship between the flame speed and stretch. The results of flame speed vs stretch obtained using detailed chemical kinetics compares well with the existing experimental results. The detailed examination of the flame structure indicates that some of the radicals get affected over a broad range of temperature when the flame is subjected to positive stretch. Besides this, flame speed vs stretch of cylindrical flame is compared well with that of spherical flame, demonstrating the generality of the stretch effects on the overall flame structure. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.