Rich Horton, who made a century in the corresponding match last year, 88 and Atul 119, added 195 runs for the second wicket as the visitors posted a club record score and as the run rate rose and the total mounted the boaters on the lake found themselves increasingly at risk!!

Rich Horton has always been a class act and once again showed exactly why he has become one of the most prodigious run makers down the years, but well though he batted on this occasion he was all but put in the shade by the brilliance of the little Indian Guru Atul, who illuminated his memorable innings with a six and 13 fours.

Add to this heady cocktail a dash or two of Keith Miles, 24 and the hard hitting Nigel Cheeseright, 22 and you have an intoxicating brew indeed, virtually seven runs an over in fact with not a single member of the home attack emerging unscathed.

One man not overawed by the task confronting the hosts after tea was Don Macmillan. He served notice of intent by hitting three fours from the first over but the danger man fell on his sword when perishing to Cheeseright for 35, Sills 59 and Hampshire 50, kept hopes flickering but the timely introduction into the attack of Rich Coombes, 3 for 24 did the trick and with Keith Miles coming back to close with 4 for 45 it was all up for Portishead.

Claverham's position at the top of the table was reinforced in no uncertain manner.