MARNHULL 205-8 (20pts) beat PORTLAND RT 151 (7pts) by 54 runs

A SUDDEN batting collapse cost Portland Red Triangle as in-form Marnhull continued their surge up the County Division One standings with a 54-run win.

Triangle remain in fifth but Marnhull, having languished in the relegation zone for much of the season, are now just 11 points behind Matt Randell’s men in sixth, 28 points clear of the drop zone with three games remaining.

Randell, a late arrival to the game, elected to bowl first after inspecting a green-tinged surface.

After building to 48-0, Marnhull were undone as Portland’s bowlers fought their way back into the contest.

Impressive young off-spinner Jack Marsh (2-31) continued his good form by removing openers Ashley Young (21) and James Hardy (26), while Jon Cameron (3-26) steamed through the middle order to reduce the hosts to 74-5.

However, a top score of 65 not out from Danny Harkin, allied to 23 from Cameron Cudlipp and 20 from Edwin Ralph, helped Marnhull post a competitive 205-8 from 45 overs.

A strong reply from Randell (16), smearing four boundaries in 12 balls, was halted by Cudlipp (5-31) who also removed fellow opener Chris Leake (10).

Callan Laws (15) helped rebuild alongside Ryan Price but Marnhull claimed two quick wickets as the former fell to Ralph (1-21) and Chris Theakstone (0) was bowled by Stuart Cundy (1-35).

And, when Price (37) was dismissed by Hardy (2-19), Portland went from a promising 120-4 to 151 all out with only Ollie Whisker (18) and Matt Barrett reaching double figures as tall paceman Cudlipp claimed a fifer.

Speaking to Echosport, Randell said: “I think it was a tough one to take. We didn’t have much control over the first 10 overs but we dragged it back quite nicely.

“It was set up perfectly for us to cruise home. With the bat we were 120-4 and with six wickets in hand you’d back yourself to go on and do that.

“We lost six wickets for 31 runs, so it’s a tough one to take – I wouldn’t have said they outplayed us, we just played some bad cricket.”

On his decision to bowl first, Randell added: “The pitch played well throughout.

“I turned up a little late and didn’t get a chance to look at it before the toss.

“It looked a bit green on top so I put them in and it probably turned out to be a bad call in the end. The pitch played a lot better than it originally looked.”

Portland next face Shillingstone on Saturday (1.30pm).

CONTACT ME:

t: 01305 830990

e: neil.walton

@dorsetecho.co.uk

twitter: @EchoSportNeil