Portland Red Triangle defeat Beaminster by 157 runs

MATT Randell hammered a scintillating 172 not out as Portland Red Triangle thumped County Division One strugglers Beaminster by 157 runs at Reforne.

Randell’s century came off 118 deliveries, including 16 boundaries and 10 sixes.

It was his second ton this season and 16th for Triangle.

Randell scored more than half of Triangle’s runs in a sensational team effort that resulted in a run rate of 7.62 from their 45 overs.

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Callan Laws also hit 70 from 92 balls, while Simon Proffitt smacked 50 from 30, including five sixes, while Mohammad Kazimi made 22 from 24.

Off-spinner Paul Edwards, who opened the bowling, ended with a respectable 2-48 from his nine overs as the Beaminster attack posted some nightmarish figures.

Rather than chase an improbable 344, Beaminster would target the 200 mark in order to get full batting points in their bid to escape bottom spot.

However, the top half went for a combined 73 runs as Simon Proffitt (3-40) and Jack Marsh (3-30) dished out more punishment with only Jack Handford (32) scoring freely.

Beaminster turned to the experience of Ross Baker (38) and Simon Jones to compile 51 runs for the sixth wicket.

However, Baker was prised out caught off Ikram Kazimi (2-54) having struck seven boundaries and a six.

Ollie Hey and Ollie Bareham fell without scoring but Edwards hit a defiant 18 from 15 balls while Jones also lashed out.

The duo rebuilt from 126-8 and although Edwards fell to Kazimi, Jones (46) fell to Randell (1-3) missing out on both his half-century and the final batting point.

Beaminster skipper Will Moss admitted Portland were far too strong for his side on the day.

He told the Bridport News: "Full credit to Portland. They turned up and played really well.

"We did put up a valiant effort considering the side we had, losing the toss and bowling first. They were just miles better than us on the day."

He added: "We dropped Callan early and that could've turned the game.

"I don't think we bowled badly, we might've been a bit flat. Randell batted incredibly well."

On Beaminster's chase, Moss added: "We knew 344 was going to be way too much.

"Our sights were to get to 200 and maximum batting points, damage limitation almost.

"It was obviously a shame we weren't able to get there but we still managed to get four.

"We lost a few regular wickets and never really managed to form any major partnerships."

Randell said of his match-winning knock: “I woke up at about five o’clock, I text Joe (Adkins) and said: 'I’m going to get runs'.

“Batting with Cal is always nice and batting with Si was good. It was just good to build, get in and grind them down.

“They felt a bit flat in the sixth over at 30-2. I felt if we could put on a partnership then we could cash in later on.

“It was nice to get a big contribution to a win in a big game where it felt like if we won and then win next week, we’re probably looking to stay up.”

Randell was surprised by the nature of Beaminster’s chase, adding: “It was weird.

“They didn’t really look to go after it but didn’t dig in to get the full points. It was odd.

“I don’t think they had a clear plan as to how they were going to go about it, and it showed with some of the dismissals.”