BROADSTONE 112 (5pts) lost to PORTLAND RT 356-8 (20pts) by 244 runs

PORTLAND Red Triangle blitzed 356-8 against bottom side Broadstone Seconds before securing an enormous 244-run victory in their County Division one clash at Delph Woods.

Electing to bat first after winning the toss, Portland cashed in immediately as opening bowler Owen Parkin was thumped for 25 from just two overs.

Captain Matt Randell (27) promoted himself to open and hit six fours in his 17-ball stay before Ed Jack (3-63) pinned him lbw.

Chris Leake (73) then reached his 50, striking nine fours and four sixes in total, negotiating the loss of Callan Laws (9).

But Leake perished soon after Ryan Price (9) as Portland reached 139-4. New batsmen Chris Theakstone and Simon Proffitt (35) continued the heavy scoring, sharing 89 until the latter became the sole victim of Phil Jack (1-67), falling beg before.

Theakstone (84) fell short of a century, his 73-ball knock containing 12 fours and a six, but Jon Cameron (33 off 27), Joe Adkins (22no off 16) and Matt Barrett (15 off 11) all scored at more than a run per ball as Triangle posted a massive 356-8 off 45 overs.

In reply, the hosts had no answer to the division’s leading wicket-taker Proffitt, who dismissed captain Rich Poole (9), Ed Jack (9) and Phil Jack (0) to leave Broadstone 30-3.

Kiwi swing bowler Sam Mihell (3-49) then accounted for Simon (13) and Elliot Leadbetter (10) either side of Proffitt (4-29) claiming his fourth wicket as Portland ran riot at 58-6.

Charlie Groves (18) top scored in riposte but Portland had little trouble wrapping up the innings, wicketkeeper Simon Abbott (0) retiring out as Triangle clinched a huge margin of victory.

Speaking to Echosport, Randell felt the win was generated by a return to attacking cricket.

He said: “That was the message, let’s try and rebrand our cricket and play more of a positive brand.

“It was quite nice to see everyone pick it up quite quickly. One of the biggest messages to the batters was ‘don’t worry about getting out, just play your shots’.

“We were going at about 10-an-over straight away which then meant we could carry on that momentum.”

On the in-form Leake and Theakstone, Randell added: “They’re having a good bit of banter and chat about who’s going to end up as a leading runscorer, so that’s a little bit of motivation for them both.

“Jon was the best batsman of the day, he only scored 33 but we moved him up the order.”

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