PORTLAND RT 79-5 (18pts) beat WITCHAMPTON 78 (2pts) by five wickets

PORTLAND Red Triangle enjoyed another crushing win as Witchampton were the latest victims of the County Division Two leaders.

After bowling the visitors out for just 78, with the in-form Simon Proffitt taking 5-17 from his nine overs, Portland missed out on maximum batting points in their chase, eventually securing a five-wicket success.

It was another superb bowling display that set the match up for the hosts, who got a chance to bowl first after Witchampton captain Marc Hayter won the toss and batted.

Proffitt didn’t take long to warm to the task of bowling Witchampton out, as he accounted for five of the Witches’ top six in a devastating spell.

Martin Ashford (4), Adam Croker (2), Mark Hopkins (2), Gavin Wayman (5) and Daniel Bartram (4) were all dismissed by the Portland seamer, who with 30 wickets in Division Two and four in the Sunday league, is presently the top wicket-taker in the county.

Opener John Burbidge (22) was the only man into the 20s but he was run out by Ray Emery as the top six subsided.

Some late runs from Stefan Taylor and Marc Hayter (both 10) helped Witchampton relieve some pressure but Rob Townley (2-31) and Matt Barrett (2-6) each took braces as the away side closed on 78 all out.

A relatively straightforward chase began with Emery (16) and skipper Matt Randell (28), who comfortably saw off opening bowlers Taylor (0-23) and Wayman (0-18).

First-change bowler Hayter (1-19) proved expensive off two overs but did remove Randell, before Proffitt added a quick 24.

Portland then rapidly lost four wickets with the finish line fast approaching as Alex Bennett (1-2) dismissed Emery, before James Bennett remarkably accounted for Proffitt, Cameron Midgley (0) and Callan Laws (0).

Bennett’s trio of wickets came in just eight balls, but Portland finally got the solitary run they needed to take an 18-point win.

Had it not been for a batting collapse, Portland would have maintained the gap to rivals Compton House at 11 points, but their main threats picked up 20 to reduce the deficit to nine.

Triangle travel to winless Shillingstone Seconds on Saturday.

n Portland Red Triangle Seconds were defeated by 92 runs against Witchampton Seconds in County Division Five, and next play away at Poole Town Fourths on Saturday, July 29 after a bye this weekend.