PORTSMOUTH skipper Richard Locke led from the front as the newly promoted city side eased to the top of the Southern Premier League Division One with an unexpectedly comfortable 81-run win over in-form Liphook & Ripsley at St Helens Field, Southsea.

Locke’s 69 was the basis for Portsmouth’s healthy 238-9 in their 50 overs, paving the way for a rapid 41 from Inderpal Nandra and a late 43 off 45 balls from Vikram Dawson.

Liphook’s fielding was poor by their usual standards and they struggled to make regular breakthroughs. Suman Ganguly took three good wickets and Dan Wrenn came on fourth change to claim 3-37 in his ten overs.

The visitors needed their strong top order to deliver, but the batting was made to look brittle as Jed Whitecross and Ishafaque Ahmad reduced them to 50-4. And the writing was on the wall at 62-5, with Wrenn clean-bowled by Australian Fraser Hay

Giles Cover played a fine counter-attacking innings, hitting ten fours and a six in his 68 off 69 balls, but received very little support at the other end. He was finally bowled by Inderpal Nandra who snapped up the last three wickets in three overs and Liphook were dismissed for 157, with 15 overs going to waste.

Liphook will hope to get back on track this weekend when they travel to Hook & Newnham who registered their first win of the season last Saturday.