PRT 1st XI

Dorchester:Rugg, Paul

Triangle skipper Simon Barrett admitted the islanders were "out-batted, out-bowled and out-fielded" as second-placed Dorchester kept up their promotion challenge with a comfortable win at Reforne.

"They were a very impressive side and they deservedly won the game," said Barrett after Dorchester's lan Sibley and his Kiwi opening partner Paul Rugg raced past Portland's modest score with more than 25 overs to spare.

Rugg, who was moved up the order because Dorchester feared rain might interrupt their reply, rattled up 11 fours and three sixes in an aggressive 71 that was just what visiting skipper Mark Derrien ordered.

"Paul was superb, although he was dropped when he had scored only three or four," said Derrien. "We thought then that he would make Portland pay and he certainly did. "We knew there was a good chance of rain and we asked him to get on with it. It was just as well he did because almost as soon as we had rolled them over the rain started."

Winning the toss, Dorchester skipper Mark Derrien put the home side into bat. Despite lively bowling from openers Phil Morley and Rob Waite, it was the introduction of the slower bowlers that really restricted Portland's run scoring. Seamer Simon Talbot and spinner Adam Rendall each bowled their ten overs unchanged, conceding just 18 and 21 runs respectively. Only a patient 24 from Dougie Bader and a season's best 34 from Martin Hewson provided any respectability, with Morley claiming three late  victims  to dismiss Portland in the 43rd over.

When Dorchester replied, Sibley and Rugg in particular made it clear they had no intention of allowing any bowler to dominate. They played many attacking strokes, several in the air dangerously close to fieldsmen, as the boundaries flowed. Rugg, who has played first class cricket in New Zealand for Canterbury, hit the ball extremely hard and finished the match with three successive fours to complete a dismal afternoon for the Islanders.

"This is a performance to learn from rather than to dwell upon," said Barrett. "Our fielding needs to be much keener, the bowling more disciplined and the batting more positive.

"Everyone knows they are capable of better than was on show today and there is no better place to show it than when we visit Dean Park next week to  play  league  leaders Suttoners."

Dorchester, who meet the league leaders on the last day of the season, hope Barrett's men do just that. "It was unfortunate that the rain finished Suttoners game at Beaminster when the home side were on top, but at least we have pulled back a couple of points on them," said Derrien. "We need to do that again before we meet them and then it will be a winner-takes-all situation on the final day"

Econ.

3.62

2.88

2.83

1.80

2.10

Econ.

3.00

7.06

6.67

7.25

12.00