GORAE-PORTLAND is on the winners list for the first time in the 2021-22 Portland and District Cricket Association’s A grade season, handing Portland Tigers their first defeat for the summer on Saturday.
Go-Ports won the toss in round three and opted to bat first on their home hard wicket at Alexandra Park.
Zac Duncan (15) and Jordan Edmonds (28) both managed to have a big impact on early proceedings, while Andre Wallace (32 from 55) scored quickly through the middle overs.
In the final overs of the innings Damien Compton (21) and Kaden Wilson (16 not out) were an excellent working pair as Go-Ports climbed to 6-133.
Tigers' captain Will Oakley was the team's only multiple-wicket taker with 2-17 and three maidens from his eight overs, while Joel Askew helped out with a tidy 1-14 from eight.
Duncan, Go-Ports’ captain, said for the second round in a row he was really pleased with how his team batted.
“We managed to bat out the full 45 overs again this week and finish with a quality score and I was really happy with that,” Duncan said.
“Reaching the end of the 45 overs each week is a huge focus for us this season because we know that nine times out of 10 you should have a score you can defend if you do exactly that.
“Jordan Edmonds has been really good so far at the top of the order, he’s playing that anchor role each week aiming to make it to drinks and guarantee that we aren’t losing a flow of wickets at any stage.
“He’s done that really well two weeks in a row now.
“Andre Wallace really got going on Saturday too which was great, he batted well and played a big role in our win.”
Tigers then headed out for their first run chase of the season but stumbled early with the loss of prized opener Michael Blomeley (6) and first drop Llewelyn Oakley (4).
The pursuing Tigers then recovered via a 31-run stand between opener Joel Hollis and Will Oakley, entering the game at second drop, who guided the team to 2-59 before the loss of Hollis for 29 runs.
Some crafty bowling from Compton cut deeper into the middle order, with Ben Atwell and Paul Procter both removed with little impact, while Oakley continued to hold up the other end.
Tigers climbed to 5-91, requiring just 43 more runs for a victory, before the game-winning blows were stuck.
Oakley was finally dismissed for a game-high 33 runs, coming from 97 deliveries, and two other wickets would fall in quick succession as Tigers fell to 8-99.
Joel Askew (7) and Ian Faure (11) showed fight late however the team's innings eventually crumbled at 120 runs in the 44th over, 14 runs short of a win.
After great performances with the bat, Wilson (3-25) and Compton (2-26) both had a big impact in defending the total they helped build and Duncan said he was rapt with the start to the season Wilson has enjoyed.
“Kaden Wilson has been brilliant in both games so far, he’s already playing a big role in how our season is unfolding,” he said.
“He’s taking the new ball for us at the moment alongside Stephen O’Brien and showing a lot of control, which can be tough for a young player.
“He was also really good with the bat on Saturday closing our innings for us, and I’m not sure what he looks better with at the moment, which is a good sign.
“I thought Thomma (Roberts) bowled well on Saturday too and pairing him with Nick Wills through the middle orders is looking like a great combination.
“It was a really great feeling to get out our first win on the board and hopefully there’s plenty more to come.”
