POOLE TOWN THIRDS 178 (6pts) lost to BRIDPORT (20pts) 180-2 by 8 wickets

DESPITE playing a man short, Bridport had far too much in the locker for Poole Town Thirds, with captain Liam Toohill leading by example.

After winning the toss and batting first, Poole slumped to 38-6 as Alex Lee and Toohill ran riot, before the hosts recovered to post 178 in this Division Four clash.

And even though opener Rod Gay went early in the Bridport reply, the visitors coasted to victory with Toohill finishing on 90 not out.

“We had lots of people unavailable for the game, but it was a decent 10 that we had,” said Toohill.

“Alex and I reduced them to 38-6 after I had lost the toss but their middle order put on a sizeable partnership and without a recognised third strike bowler we let them get away from us.

“Mark Smith and Duane Gay took a wicket each and Toby Hall came on to take the last two.

“After fielding first and having 10 men we thought Poole were going to run away with it and make 200-plus, so we were happy with 178.

“And we were quite comfortable chasing the target although we started badly when Rod was out for a duck.

“But me and Mark put on 143 for the next wicket and when he was out for 49 Duane saw it through to the end with me.”

He continued: “Alex’s three wickets take him to 30 for the season and overall it was a good result and a good performance.

“That’s six wins in a row for us and another 20 points in the bag and that’s all we can keep doing.

“The only downside is that with Weymouth Longshots withdrawing from the league, we lose the 38 points we got for beating them twice.

“It’s the same for everybody who has played them and we are still in second place, but it makes a good season so far look a bit average.”

Alex Lee and Toohill have worked well in tandem as Bridport’s opening bowlers this season and they were at it again on Saturday.

Only one of the Poole top order reached double figures and they had to rely on P MacDiarmid (48) and J Robinson (44) getting them out of a hole.

And after Rod Gay had perished with the Bridport reply on four, Toohill played superbly and with support from Smith and Duane Gay, victory was never in doubt.

Bridport are home to mid-table Kingston Lacy this Saturday.