On a cold and damp morning (not sure how I forgot it is always blowing a gale at Hambledon’s ground but that is as they say another story) Petersfield came up against Hambledon for the 2nd time in 5 days. Petersfield won the toss and decided to bat first and set a target for the hosts to chase.
Dan Parry(10) and Joe (1) could not repeat the heroics of Wednesday’s opening stand but Joe who faced the first over I think got a bit frustrated as the first over he faced was all over the place and went for 13 (1 run off the bat) and was bowled off an inside edge. Dan was 1 of two victims for Woolas playing back to a ball he needed to get forward to with the ball dying after it pitched and hitting the stumps no more than 2 inches off the ground. Gabriel (27) came it at 3 and played a fluent innings before guiding the ball to slip. The run rate was healthy with some nice shots being played before a mini collapse occurred with Tom (5), Rob (4) and Dan Eglestaff (5) getting out along with Gabriel to leave Petersfield 73-6 before Ben (13) and Josh (16) steadied the innings. Will (1), Alex (1 not out) and Oliver (6) pushed the total up to 118 which is now 4 games on the trot we have scored over a hundred which is a fantastic effort from the boys.
Hambledon had different openers than on Wednesday but they still got off to a flying start although only from 1 batsmen this time. Once the opener Gale retired for a well made 31 the Petersfield bowlers then turned the screw with some tight bowling from Alex (0-11), Tom (0-6) and Dan Eglestaff (0-14) kept the scoring down to 68-3 from 12th over. Then came the devastating spells of bowling from Gabriel (2-7) and Will (3-3) the later taking 3 in one over before Oliver (2-23) returned to replace Will (to great surprise from the coach and spectators) to clean up the last wicket. The last 6 wickets for 1 run in 3 overs to leave them 40 runs short of the Petersfield total.
As I said to the lads and the parents what pleased me more than anything else was not the win but the attitude of the lads. I know it is easier in the field when you are winning but everyone to a man was supporting the bowlers verbally and physically with some excellent fielding, catching (how did Gabe get to that catch) and backing up when the ball was thrown in. We looked like a team today which is a big plus for me and as was pointed out by a couple of the lads I could not stop smiling because of it as the hard work Paddy and I are putting in in training seems to be working, keep it up lads it was a joy to watch today.
Man of the match has to go to Will Grange for 2 over’s of accurate medium pace and a sharp catch which won us the match, honourable mentions to Gabriel and Josh.
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