PORTLAND RED TRIANGLE 266-7 (20pts) beat STALBRIDGE II 80 (3pts) by 186 runs

PORTLAND completed a comprehensive victory over 10-man Stalbridge, the 20 points collected keeping them the islanders on track for promotion.

Batting first at the Windowman Oval, Reforne, the home side began positively and continued to dominate the Stalbridge attack for the majority of the allotted 45 overs.

After the early loss of opener Matt Randell, Simon Proffitt peppered the boundary in his 49 scored off just 34 balls.

Chris Leake batted in a similar vein, his 42 runs coming from only 32 balls as only M Chant (10 overs for 43) was able to exercise any degree of control over the batsmen.

The later Triangle batsmen all played aggressively, Matt Barr-ett’s 24 coming exclusively in boundaries, plus Olly Whisker and Simon Barrett both hitting Chant for large sixes.

The final total of 266 always looked like a match-winning score, equating to a scoring rate of nearly six runs per over.

Apart from R Knight who hit a fluent 52, none of the Stalbridge batsmen were able to establish themselves as the Portland bowlers took wickets at regular intervals.

Rob Townley trapped both openers lbw and when Proffitt bowled J Forshaw, the visitors were reeling at 15-3.

George Coleman offered some support to Knight, the 14-year-old staying at the crease for more than 10 overs.

Leake trapped Coleman lbw, the first of his four victims, and with Scott Males dismissing the dangerous Chant the last four wickets fell for just 23 runs leaving Portland victors by the huge margin of 186 runs.

Home captain Males said: “We batted positively throughout and to score more than 250 with no individual reaching a half-century just underlines our batting strength in depth.

In the field, we were sharp and aside from a few leg side deliveries that were dispatched to the boundary, we bowled well.

“This win maintains our promotion ambition and we look forward to the next game with confidence.”