BRIDPORT 211-9 (6pts) lost to Portland RED TRIANGLE 212-3 (19pts) by seven wickets

A STUNNING 83-run partnership between Gareth Price and Chris Leake saw Portland Red Triangle pull off a seven-wicket victory against Brid-port at the WindowMan Oval at Reforne.

The visitors set a competitive target of 211 thanks to a fine knock from Luke King (64 not out) but the islanders chased that down in just 33.5 overs with Price (57 not out) and Leake’s (42 not out) unbeaten stand leading the hosts home after Chris Brown (40) and Simon Proffitt (43) had laid the foundations at the top of the order.

Portland skipper Simon Barrett said: “It was a good performance but we did probably let them get 20 or 30 runs more than we should have done.

“We batted really positively and to win with over 10 overs to spare was a fantastic effort.

“It certainly gives us a boost going into the next few games and to be honest it was just a delight to be out there under the sunshine after the recent wet weather we have had.

“We always fancy ourselves against anyone at home and to come out on top in any local derby is always very pleasing indeed.”

Commenting further on his side’s batting, Barrett added: “That was the first time Chris Brown has opened the batting and he performed really well.

“Chris Leake has dropped a little lower down the order and that worked too, and Simon is just playing brilliantly at the moment.

“When Chris Leake and Simon are both on song there is no bowling attack in this league that can live with them.

“That was also Gareth’s second 50 in two weeks so it is all looking very good indeed and bodes well for a strong finish to the campaign.”

Portland now lie sixth in Dorset League Division Three, just 14 points adrift of the top three, while Bridport sit third-bottom.

The West Dorset outfit’s skipper Liam Toohill added: “Despite the defeat there were a lot of positives to take from the game.

“Cerne Iverson (30) batted brilliantly on his debut and he has definitely kept his place in the team for the coming weeks.

“Luke also batted really intelligently to hold the innings together and Ed Halson (25 not out) did well to take us over 200.

“Our catching and fielding was also good but our bowling can be improved.

“That was the first time for two or three weeks that the bowlers have been able to get out there and unfortunately it showed.”