BLANDFORD 160-1 (20pts) beat PORTLAND RT 159 (3pts) by nine wickets

PORTLAND Red Triangle were blown away by Blandford as the County Division One title hopefuls raced to a nine-wicket victory.

Seventh-placed Portland are now just 29 points above the relegation places, while Blandford are in third just six points off leaders Witchampton.

Portland stand-in skipper Ryan Price won the toss and chose to bat but his side were in trouble at 50-4 when Callan Laws and Ray Emery (both 6) plus Matt Barrett (18) and Izaak Russell (4) all fell cheaply.

Andy Lawrence (2-35) and Ryan White (2-30) were their tormentors, although Price and Rich Samuel batted well to get Portland back into it.

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The duo shared 51 until Price (30) followed Samuel (24) back to the pavilion in quick succession as Blandford reduced the visitors to 105-6.

Jon Cameron (23) and Bob Edwards (18no) added late runs but Jamie Mitchell (3-41) mopped up the tail as Portland were dismissed for 159.

In reply, Portland simply had no answer to the powerful batting of Blandford opening duo Christian Watts and Luke Carter.

Prolific batter Carter, who last season moved down a level with a switch from Broadstone, scored the bulk of a 154-run opening stand as Portland toiled in the field.

Watts (48) was more measured but after watching Carter (81no) streak to his half-century could not match the feat as off-spinner Jack Marsh (1-14) brought about his demise.

However, Carter and James Woodruff (1no) had just seven runs to get for victory and duly found them to complete a crushing win in just 20.1 overs.

Portland host Poole Town Seconds this afternoon (1.30pm).