SWANAGE 270-7 (12pts) lost to PORTLAND RT 271-9 (18pts) by one wicket

SIMON Proffitt’s superb century on his return to action for Portland Red Triangle helped the islanders to a tense one-wicket win at Swanage in County Division One.

Proffitt, who re-joined Portland after a spell with Bere Regis in the Premier League, crashed a scintillating 117 from 122 balls to help guide his side to victory.

It came after Swanage compiled a big score of 270-7 in perfect batting conditions, Mike Nash (72) and Mark Stacey (58) both scoring half-centuries.

READ MORE: Bere Regis beaten heavily by Wimborne

They were supplemented by healthy contributions from Craig Wells (38) and John Lewis (31) as the Swans scored at exactly one run per ball from their 45 overs.

But Proffitt showed his class with 17 fours and three sixes as he shared partnerships with six teammates.

Ryan Price (33) and Chris Theakstone (20) were the only other batters to surpass 20 as a wayward Swanage attack shipped 54 extras, 46 of which came from wides.

Although Proffitt fell to spinner Steve Kent (2-36) with Portland needing another 35 runs to win, Jon Cameron (15no) and Jack Marsh (10) got them home with two balls to spare in a dramatic conclusion.

Speaking to Echosport, Portland skipper Matt Randell said: “It was a very good pitch, we won’t play on too many better than that this year.

“The key message is when we were out there fielding, runs were coming along nicely but it was about sticking in, hitting our areas.

“If we could keep them to around 250, we felt that was easily chaseable on the surface we were playing on.

“We bowled really well and to keep them to 270 was credit to the areas we were hitting.

“You’ve got that belief and know that runs can be chased down. It always feels a little harder chasing but it was just having that belief to play our natural game and be positive in knocking off the runs.”

On Proffitt, Randell added: “Watching him bat compared to other people is a luxury.

“Where someone might hit a fielder, he was just hitting gaps. It was nice to see him back out there scoring runs and them being for us and not someone else!”

Elsewhere, Portland Red Triangle Seconds took a seven-wicket victory over Cheselbourne in Division Five, earning 20 points.