County Division Two

PORTLAND RT 175-5 (18pts) beat CATTISTOCK 156-9 (5pts) by 19 runs

SOME impressive bowling from youngsters Matt Barrett and Tom Dalkins, and Chris Leake’s superb batting helped Portland clinch their second win of the season in County Division Two.

The islanders were asked to bat on a green and sticky Cattistock wicket, and they got off to a bad start when Chris Brown was dismissed in the second over.

Captain Matt Randell and Simon Proffitt tried to consolidate but it was Chris Leake who saw off the new ball bowlers of Langford (2-13) and Damon (1-35) when he came to the crease.

After Proffitt went for 16, Leake had two slices of good fortune which allowed him to go on and build a big score.

First he was caught by the Cattistock wicketkeeper but he was ruled to have taken the catch in front of the stumps, then a delivery he faced hit the wicket but failed to dislodge the bails.

Leake never looked back after that and went on to make an unbeaten 81.

Dave Adkins missed a straight ball but Chris Theakstone struck a fluent 25 and Simon Barrett smashed 21 off 15 balls to take Portland to 175-5.

When Cattistock went out to bat the conditions hadn’t changed so they knew 175 was going to be a tough chase.

Proffitt (1-35) struck to remove Toohill with a skilful piece of bowling, while Jon Cameron (1-18) bowled economically from the other end. He got the ball to move in the air and on the pitch before removing Tucker for just seven.

The ball was then handed to youngsters Matt Barrett (3-36) and Dalkins (1-9). Barrett bowled with good pace to pick up his three wickets and looked positive the whole way through.

But the pick of the bowlers was Dalkins, who after being out with an ankle injury all winter was keen to get going again.

He beat the bat time and time again and was incredibly unlucky not to pick up more than one wicket.

With the game in the balance, Randell (3-34) came on and took two wickets to turn the contest back in Portland’s favour.

The visitors then saw the game out with some good death bowling from Proffitt and Cameron.

“Chris Leake’s knock showed his experience and talent to guide us to a competitive score,” said captain Randell.

“But the hard hitting down the bottom of the order really added fire to the innings.

“I was very impressed by the two younger and inexperienced bowlers who took control of the whole game.”