Stalbridge beat Portland Red Triangle by eight wickets

PORTLAND Red Triangle were dealt a heavy eight-wicket defeat by Stalbridge in their County Division One encounter at The Park.

Stalbridge jumped above Portland into fourth as a result, following an unusually blunt batting display from Triangle.

After winning the toss and inviting Stalbridge to field, the hosts produced a controlled opening spell of bowling that put pressure on the Triangle batters.

The formidable pairing of Steve Forshaw and Stuart Sweatman combined to take two early wickets as Matt Barrett was bowled by Forshaw (1-6) for a golden duck.

READ MORE: Matt Randell blasts century as Portland beat Beaminster by 68 runs

Barrett was followed back to the pavilion by Callan Laws (16) as Sweatman (1-30) breached his defences.

Meanwhile, Forshaw delivered incredible figures of 1-6 from seven overs, including two maidens, as he did not concede a boundary.

With Dave Adkins playing the anchor role, skipper Matt Randell (22), Khylo Farley (14) and Ryan Price (18) all had licence to attack but the trio fell after making good starts.

However, Adkins battled on to chalk up a gritty half-century, finishing on 53 not out from a whopping 137 balls as Portland deprived Stalbridge of full bowling points, ending on 148-7.

In reply, Stalbridge batted with the fluency Portland were unable to produce but lost their first wicket 43 runs in when Rich Samuel (1-37) bowled Sweatman.

Skipper James Lewis then combined with George Coleman (41) to take the game away from Triangle, the latter hitting six boundaries in 37 balls before Jack Marsh (1-39) bowled him.

Lewis (57no) went on to record a half-century and was accompanied to the finish line by Will Coleman (14no) as Stalbridge completed victory at a canter in just 29 overs.

Elsewhere, Portland’s second string beat Puddletown Seconds by seven wickets in Division Five.