PORTLAND RT 199 (19pts) beat CERNE VALLEY 108 (6pts) by 91 runs

PORTLAND Red Triangle secured their fourth win of the campaign in County Division Two, skittling out Cerne Valley for just 108 to seal 19 league points.

Having lost the toss, the islanders were put in on a damp green wicket which looked like it could misbehave early with the new ball.

Cerne would have wanted to make early inroads but Portland openers Elliott Sawyer (35) and Chris Leake (19) had other ideas, putting on an opening stand of 44.

When Sawyer, the aggressor in the stand, was dismissed by Robert Baney, Portland’s Simon Proffitt (37) came to the crease and looked to play freely.

This proved effective until the ball got stuck in the pitch and he chipped the ball to Cerne’s Solo Roper on the boundary, who comfortably took the catch.

Portland’s top order had set a platform for the middle order to come in and add some power to the innings.

After Callan Laws (18) upped the rate, captain Matt Randell (53) came to the crease and went after the bowling. His 53 came in just 39 balls striking four sixes and four fours.

This added some impetus to the innings and took Portland into the break with the upper hand, scoring 199 all out, which looked impressive on a tricky pitch.

Cerne's Pearce Mercer was the pick of their attack, claiming 5-29.

Looking to pick up early wickets with the ball to defend the total, Portland’s Gary Randell (2-11) started off proceedings picking up early wickets.

Proffitt (1-8) backed him up with the ball, claiming the big scalp of Cerne skipper Neil Kellaway.

With intensity in the field from the island club, Cerne only reached 47 from 22 overs at drinks.

Captain Randell chopped and changed his bowlers after the break in a bid to bowl the hosts out. Matt Barrett (3-11) R Townley (1-14) and skipper Randell himself (2-30) picked up the remaining wickets to give Portland 19 points and a comfortable win.

On the performance, island captain Randell said: “Everyone did what we wanted and the plans we set worked.

“I was very disappointed at the toss when we got put into bat, I thought our bowlers would have done a really good job up front with the new ball on that sort of pitch. Having said that the batsman soon put any doubts I had in my mind about the pitch to rest.

“If we perform like that every week then we won’t lose many more games but it’s important for us to remember that we have to put the work and effort in to put out performances like that.”