PRT

PRT:Randell, Gary

Portland Red Triangle's slender Division One survival hopes lay in tatters following defeat to fellow strugglers Bournemouth at Reforne. The rock bottom islanders went down by seven wickets to the side who began the day occupying the place above them in the table.

Despite posting a competitive total of 229, the hosts were made to toil in the field due to some bold batting from the visitors, who collected a vital 19 points in their fourth win of campaign. With just four matches left this season, Triangle look to be heading for Division Two next year unless they can conjure up three victories in August.

Batting first, Portland made a disastrous start with the scoreboard reading a sorry 10-3 after six overs. Stalwart Gary Randell soon showed that he is still as good as any batsman in Division One with a series of well-timed boundaries during a 79 ball innings of 70. Randell added 77 for the sixth wicket with the evergreen Jason Styles who mixed careful defence with sensible aggression in a vital 58 not out which helped Portland to a respectable 229.

During the visitors' reply, it was clear that their batsmen had made up their minds to attack anything slightly wide or overpitched and this they did productively. Although many strokes were hit in the air, invariably these found the gaps or fell just out of the reach of the Portland fielders.

After the early loss of Collins, the Old brothers put together a 93-run partnership which proved the foundation for the Bournemouth victory Jon Dixon was the pick of the home attack, claiming 1-38 in his ten overs although he and all Triangle's bowlers were hampered by a wet ball for the last half of the innings.

Skipper Simon Barrett said: "After our terrible start, to recover to score 229 was a good achievement and both Gary and Jason showed what we have been missing for most of the season. I felt we had a good chance when we came to bowl but, as has been the case in so many matches this season, we delivered too many 'four balls' which were gratefully dispatched to the boundary.

"In addition, despite having to play in driving rain at one stage, we dropped three straightforward catches which certainly did not help. Now, in order to avoid relegation, we really need to win three of the remaining four games which although not impossible is certainly a tough ask."

PRT 6, Bounemouth OB 19