WIMBORNE II 288-2 (20pts) beat PORTLAND RT 182 (4pts) by 106 runs

PORTLAND Red Triangle were defeated by 106 runs against a Wimborne Seconds side using tactics to perfection in their County Division One clash at the Leaze.

Having amassed 288-2, Wimborne then turned to a short-ball barrage to mop up full bowling points.

While the strategy ruffled Portland’s feathers, Wimborne dominated the match after the 20-over point in their innings having lost the toss and been invited to bat first.

Wimborne showed patience as Joe Adkins (0-48) and Joel Davey (0-65) toiled away in warm conditions.

READ MORE: Portland Red Triangle beat Weymouth by two wickets - report

However, opening batters Henry Lockwood (80) and teenager Ryan Roberts (138) piled on the runs and crashed a mammoth 233 for the first wicket.

Roberts raced to a majestic century, hitting 20 fours and two maximums, but became the first to perish after 120 balls when off-spinner Jack Marsh (1-41) tempted him to offer a catch to Mohammad Kazimi.

Lockwood was more circumspect, his knock also lasting 120 balls, before Matt Randell (1-56) pouched a return catch.

Tom Butcher (25no) and Joe Welch (17no) then scored above a run per ball to add further misery for Portland, who were left with a whopping 289 target.

On a good batting surface, Callan Laws (30) and Kazimi shared 75 for the first wicket as Portland made an encouraging start against a talented attack.

However, the introduction of Jake Stainer-Reid changed the course of the game.

His canny pace and bounce, aimed to make life difficult for Portland, yielded 5-30 but not before Kazimi (50) registered his first Triangle fifty.

Stainer-Reid went on to account for Laws, Kazimi, Dave Adkins (8), a golden duck for Ibrahim Kotwal and last man Davey (3).

Randell (20) offered some resistance in the middle order but Welch took 3-27 to assist Stainer-Reid as Portland fell 106 runs short.

Speaking to Echosport, skipper Randell said: “They were a decent team, they batted quite well.

“We probably let them off a little bit after drinks. We bowled quite tight up front but they were a good side.

“With ball in hand, although I don’t necessarily agree with the tactics, fair play for sticking with it and coming up with a plan and picking up five wickets.

“I thought it was a bit unnecessary with 288 on the board, but each to their own.”

On Roberts’ innings, Randell added: “I thought he batted really well, actually. He was easily their best player.

“We probably missed a strike bowler and with that in mind winning the toss and having a bowl wasn’t the best idea.

“But with the ball, the first 20 overs we’ve done everything right. From 23-35 overs was the only time they got on top of us.”

Portland’s second team returned the favour, beating Wimborne Fourths by eight wickets in Division Five.

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