Portslade edge out rivals in a thriller

In what proved to be a tense battle between the rivals, it was Paul Glover’s side who came out on top.

Portslade batted first and were bowled out for just 164 in 53 overs.

Steyning would have felt that score was gettable but they fell two runs short in their reply and were all out for 162 in 35.3 overs.

Steyning vice-captain Ben Shelford felt it was a game his side should have won and said: “We bowled really well to get them out for 164.

“Owain then batted superbly and we were cruising at 131-4 but, after that point, we just collapsed.

“Some really poor shots were played and, in the end, we lost the game.

“It was just not acceptable and we should have done better than we did.

“We had so many overs left to get the runs but sloppy dismissals cost us.

“We will have a chat as a team at training to try to identify what went wrong.”

After winning the toss and deciding to bat, Portslade made a solid start.

Skipper Glover (27) and Danny Hansen (20) put on 54 for the first wicket.

However, Glover, Hansen and Tom Mooney (nought) fell in quick succession, to leave Portslade 54 for three.

Brothers David and Ian Wainwright got their side back on track with a 52-run fifth wicket stand.

Ian made 50, while David hit a quickfire 30 as Portslade looked well placed on 143-5.

But when the pair fell, Steyning took control as they picked up the final five wickets for just 21 runs.

Ed Lamb led the way with the ball, finishing with figures of five for 12 in 4.3 overs.

Steyning’s reply did not begin too well and they slipped to 61-3 in response.

But Owain Jones and Toby Glover (22) put on 70 for the fourth wicket as Steyning looked to be cruising to victory.

Jones fell six short of a century and that sparked a collpase. With victory in their sights, Steyning lost their final six wickets for 31 runs and fell to a two-run loss.

Paul Glover was the standout performer with the ball and took 4-27 as the division’s leading wicket-taker moved on to 36 for the season.

Portslade travel to Burgess Hill on Saturday, while Steyning travel to Chichester.

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