Five-star Portslade climb up to third

It was another tight affair as they won at Burgess Hill by three wickets with two balls to spare, just a week after a two-run victory over Steyning.

Ian Wainwright was Portslade’s matchwinner as he blasted a six to take his side to victory, following an impressive bowling display to dismiss Burgess Hill for 154 in 51.4 overs.

Burgess Hill had started the day second in the table but dropped to fourth after the defeat, as Crawley moved up to second and Portslade to third – 12 points behind Crawley with six games to go.

The hosts were put into bat after losing the toss and just four batsmen got into double figures.

Karl Boffey top-scored with 51, off 113 balls, and Joe Maskell struck 32, before number 11 Peter Billinghay hit 13 not out and number ten George Willett scored ten.

Left-arm spinner Steve Case led the way for Portslade and took 5-49 from 20.4 overs.

Captain Paul Glover moved on to 38 wickets for the season as he picked up 2-31 from 11 overs.

Portslade lost Danny Hansen (nought) and Glover (three) early in their reply, before Tom Mooney and Scott Ridge (12) steadied the ship.

Mooney top-scored for Portslade with 59, as he hit 11 fours from 83 balls.

Portslade lost three wickets in an over as they closed in on their target, with Dan Holgate (20), Case (nought) and David Wainwright (nought) all dismissed by Jack Simpson.

However, in another tight finish, with Portslade needing seven to win from the last over, Ian Wainwright and Mark Gravett saw their side home. Wainwright finished unbeaten on 32 and Gravett hit 12 not out.

Glover said: “I couldn’t be more proud of the team. We’ve won five successive games now and are up to third in the table.

“We’ve still got to play the top two, Bognor and Crawley, but we’ll just take things week by week and see how it goes.

“Steve bowled really well on Saturday, up the hill, to get five wickets, and that allowed Tom and I to hold up the other end.

“We lost a couple of wickets early but Tom and Scott then had a good partnership, which steadied the ship.

“We then lost a few wickets, including three in an over, but Ian and Mark batted really well to get us home.”

Portslade entertain Chichester on Saturday.

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