WITCHAMPTON 226 (20pts) beat PORTLAND RT 157 (8pts) by 69 runs

PORTLAND Red Triangle came unstuck at Witchampton as the County Division One title contenders put in a strong display to win by 69 runs at Crichel Park.

Alex Bennett’s scintillating knock of 116 proved the difference after the Witches won the toss and batted first.

Although Portland heaped pressure on early, Martin Ashford and John Burbidge departing after failing to score from 24 balls, Bennett took control.

His innings came from 121 balls and he was the eighth batter to go, Portland ruing two dropped chances.

Having been backed up by useful scores from Gavin Wayman (16), Ricky Hempstead (25) and Daniel Bartram (20).

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Rich Samuel (3-51) and Simon Proffitt (2-21) were the pick of Portland’s bowlers, the latter also bowling four maidens.

Portland made good progress in the chase until Harrison Bowles (2-22) bowled Callan Laws (24) and trapped Tony Quayle (0) lbw in the space of four balls.

Matt Barrett (61) scored quickly, his innings coming off 57 balls, but when he and Proffitt (25) departed things looked ominous for Triangle.

Bennett (4-26) and Stewart Hibberd (3-36) did the damage before breezing through the middle order, Marc Hayter (1-8) later dismissing James Potts (4) to seal victory.

Speaking to Echosport, Traingle skipper Matt Randell said: "We played some rubbish cricket.

"We bowled well and their lad that got a hundred he batted quite well for it but we dropped some chances and that's always costly.

"We put him down a couple of times but other than that we bowled well but the fielding in general was poor.

"The pitch played exactly how we thought and we planned our innings around it, we changed the batting order slightly.

"I don't think it was a score that wasn't chaseable. Our issue was that we had people that got in and they didn't kick on and then make a hundred like they had.

"I think it was a lack of experience from some of the lads that got themselves in and not being able to go on and win the game for us."

Triangle’s second team beat Lytchett by 14 runs in County Division Five.