Dorchester gained ample revenge for their opening day defeat against Portland Red Triangle as they recorded a hard fought three wicket win over the islanders at Reforne in this NSA Dorset Premier Division clash. Chasing a victory target of 200, the county town side passed their host's score with 11 balls to spare and their 24-point haul took them above Weymouth into fourth place.

Triangle won the toss and chose to bat on a soft, slow wicket which had been affected by the rain that caused the abandonment of Seasiders' game at Broadstone. Openers Simon Barrett and Will Curtis found runs hard to come by in the early stages, with Dave Trotter conceding just five runs in his first six overs before trapping Barrett leg before with the score on 15.

A partnership of 49 for the second wicket between Curtis (28) and Simon Browne (28) took the score to 64 in the 20th over, before Curtis became the first of Sean Walbridge's two victims, as the county spinner conceded just 19 runs in his 10 overs. Browne was bowled round his legs in the 31st over after a partnership of 30 with Jan Davey (17) and this brought Gary Randell to the wicket to play the innings of the day.

The experienced all rounder found his form with the bat for the first time this season as he lashed 69 in just 60 balls in a 57 minute stay at the crease. Randell cracked seven boundaries and hoisted four huge sixes off Trotter before being caught on the deep mid-wicket boundary by Walbridge with three overs of the innings remaining. The Portlanders closed on 199-9 after losing three wickets in a final over from Mal Weston who is fast becoming something of a mopping-up expert for the county town side.

Dorchester openers Walbridge and Ian Sibley again gave their side a good start, putting on 50 in reply before Browne ended the stand when he bowled Sibley in the 12th over, at a time when the visitors were well up with the run rate.

Browne kept the pressure on the Dorchester batsmen as he accounted for Weston and Pete Diffey with the score on 77, but Walbridge kept the run rate going at the other end as he took the total on to 100, before being trapped leg before by Randell. Walbridge's dismissal brought Adam Rendell and skipper Tony Foot together in what proved to be a match winning partnership over the course of the next 18 overs.

The mixture of youth and experience added 75 vital runs at the required rate to take the game away from the islanders and put their side firmly in charge. Rendell was eventually bowled by John Ryan for 49 after a 90 minute stay at the wicket, and although Foot quickly followed for 25, it was too little too late for Triangle. It was left to wicket keeper Paul Bassindale to see his team home with a lofted four over square leg in the penultimate over.

Walbridge was pleased with the way his side's run chase had gone. "After losing games against Portland and Broadstone from similar positions it was good to see us bat sensibly, " he said. "Adam and Tony batted well together to turn the game our way when another wicket could quite easily have upset the applecart again.

"Take nothing away from Portland, though, as they competed throughout the whole game and Gary Randell's innings was one of the best played against us this year."

Triangle spokesman Simon Barrett echoed his opposite number's views. "So near yet so far once again," he said. "Another wicket and who knows what might have happened. Taking wickets has been a problem for us all season, but we haven't been disgraced and I'm sure we will win again before the end of the year."