PORTLAND Colts kick-started their 2022-23 season in the Portland and District Cricket Association with a win over South Portland at Cavalier Park, chasing down their target of 92 with five wickets and more than 12 overs in hand.
The Demons won the toss and elected to bat first in what was the first match played on turf this season, a decision they must have been regretting quite quickly when Colts’ skipper Luke Evans struck just four balls into their innings, cleaning up Hamish Drew’s stumps.
The other opener Jamie Ross came unstuck in the very next over courtesy of Oscar Barbary, leaving South Portland two wickets down without scoring.
The situation became even more dire when Scott Martin was dismissed by Evans for one, leaving South at 3-4 in the fifth over.
Mark Betteridge managed to stay put, building partnerships with captain Mitch Arnold (11) and Rory Barry (seven) on his way to 39, however the slow scoring pace meant that the Demons made just 91 from their full 40 overs.
Leg-spinner Mat Belden produced the best bowling figures for Colts this season, taking 3-22 from his eight overs.
However, it was the economical bowling of Evans (2-11) and Barbary (2-15), who each bowled their full eight overs, which put Colts in a strong position from the outset.
When it was Colts’ turn to bat, opener Glenn Hollis continued his exceptional start to the season, as he was well on his way to first half-century of the season until he was run out off the arm of Mitch Arnold for 42.
Regardless, his opening stand of 63 with Matt Payne (26) was enough to see his side most of the way home, as while South Portland was able to take a handful of wickets to get into their opponents’ middle order, it proved to be too little too late, with Colts getting the winning runs five wickets down and with 12.3 overs to spare.
Arnold backed up his efforts in the field with a solid display of bowling, finishing with figures of 1-13 from his eight overs.
Robert Siemon also made a impact in his two overs, breaking Colts’ opening partnership to give his side a sniff, and finishing with figures of 1-6.
