| Match Report |
Portland Red Triangle recorded their maiden win of the 2011 Evening League
season, beating The Lugger. Portland's captain, Oliver Whisker, won his first
toss of the season and elected to bat first on Triangle's new artificial wicket.
Openers Simon Proffitt and Elliot Sawyer batted sensibly, until Proffitt was
undone by the tempting flight of Scott Males, and was sharply taken at midwicket
for eight.
This, however, would be the only joy for The Lugger, as Sawyer and
the number three batsman, Callan Laws, punished some loose bowling, including
two large sixes over midwicket. Sawyer reached his fifty, only to see Laws spoon
a simple catch back to the bowler for a well-made 45. The captain, Oliver
Whisker joined Sawyer at the crease, allowing Sawyer to punish a rather poor
last over from The Lugger, finishing up on 56 not-out.
Triangle's reply couldn't have started better as Males was soon back in the
pavilion, edging Laws into the gloves of Walker, and to everyone's surprise he
held on! Randell accounted for Borrington's middle stump soon after and a fine
piece of fielding by Rich Samuel ran out the hard-hitting Pete Jarvis, who
earlier had blasted one cover drive straight at Morris' kneecap. This brought
together Portland's exports Polley and Nott, whose measured hitting brought the
Lugger back into contention.
One swing too many saw Polley caught by Randell off Proffitt and the game was
virtually up. Another run out, courtesy of Sawyer's bullet throw and Samuel
bowled a tight final over with the Lugger now requiring an ambitious 40 to win.
They only managed to reduce that target by 4 as Triangle wrapped up the points
and helped ease some early relegation fears. |