Portland wins U/14s

22 January 2010

BY DEAN MILLARD

THE Portland and District Cricket Association has won the Nhill Country Week under-14 title after going through all three days of the competition undefeated.

The Portland side got away to a great start on Monday, winning the toss and electing to bat first against Donald.

Sam Wilson (19) and Callam Greenham got the side away to a solid start and with good contributions coming from James Elford (36 retired), Nathan Jennings (35 retired), Rowan Marshall (17) and Daniel Jackson (17), Portland was able to post a competitive score of 7-190 from their 40 overs.

Portland’s opening bowlers set the side up with some good tight bowling, with Jay Moody and Zac Shepherd going for less than a run an over between them to put Donald under early run-rate pressure.

The introduction of Luke Solly into the attack snagged a couple of wickets, while the wrist spin of Ben Cottier proved difficult for the Donald batsman to control, with Cottier also picking up two scalps.

Portland’s attacking fielding also netted two run outs as Donald was bowled out for 114.

Portland’s second match saw a comfortable victory over Warracknabeal.

Portland bowled Warracknabeal out for only 53, with Greenham and Jennings claiming three wickets each to be the pick of the bowlers, while Sam Wilson claimed 2-0 at the end of the innings.

Portland had no trouble passing the total, doing so with no wickets down and going on to make 5-232, with Greenham (35 retired), Solly (33 retired), Wilson (31), Cottier (16), Grayson Widmer (18) and Jackson (25no) all getting amongst the runs.

Portland’s final game saw it come up against its toughest opposition in Horsham, with the winning side to take the shield.

Horsham batted first and its top order performed well, scoring at a good rate to be 2-103 with 12 overs to play.

Portland tightened up with its bowling and fielding however and did not allow Horsham to capitalise on having so many wickets in hand, taking 4-40 in the next 12 overs to keep Horsham to a score of 6-142.

Jackson bowled well late to take 2-15 from four overs to be the leading wicket taker.

Portland had a bad start when solid opening batsman Greenham was caught and bowled with the score on only eight, but a great second wicket stand between Wilson and Elford put the innings back on track, with the pair taking the score to 71 before Elford (25) departed, with Wilson (37) also being retired in that time.

Moody added a handy 15 and Jackson 21 in the middle order and with contributions from Marshall (14) and Jennings (14) Portland was able to push past the Horsham total to finish on 9-151, bringing up the winning runs in the second last over.

Portland coach Ian McDonald said it had been a great performance by the side both on and off the field throughout the three days as he believed his side had always conducted itself in the best possible fashion.

“They were a really good bunch this year, they all got along really well and played some really good cricket,” McDonald said.

It was the first time Portland had claimed the under-14 shield.