Petersfield CC - 3rd XI Vs Burridge CC - 3rd XI

Petersfield CC - 3rd XI Vs Burridge CC - 3rd XI

Burridge CC - 3rd XI - Won by 48 runs     

Saturday 17th June Venue Penn’s place

Hampshire Cricket League Regional Division 3 SE                 

Petersfield 3s started their season a week late due to the bad weather last week but came up against a very strong Burridge side on a glorious day for cricket at Penn’s Place.

Stand-in captain John Windebank won the toss and listened to his bowlers as he chose to field first on a green but dry pitch despite the humid conditions

The 3s got off to a good start with Olli Simpson (8 overs 1 wicket for 27)  picking up the first wicket of the season when he had Rob Stroud (0) caught at square leg off a high full toss leaving Burridge on 6 for 1. Simpson and his opening bowler partner Dave Squires (8-1-23) kept things very tight and when the 2nd wicket fell to Alex Squires (8-3-47) Burridge were on 32. Young Squires then picked up his 2nd wicket when a dipping delivery bamboozled Clive Slaughter (4) and took out his leg stump (39-3). Sullivan White (31) joined opener Simon Bevis (72 not out) and they pushed the score along to 91 before White dragged on a good delivery from Dan May (5-1-12). Although wickets were falling at regular intervals Simon Bevis was making hay at the other end and the scoring rate continued at around 5 an over for the last 30 overs to leave Burridge on 164-6 off their 42 overs.

The total looked very reachable with the wicket playing very well for the first game of the season    with good bounce and carry. Credit to groundsman Toby Austin for producing such a good wicket with all the rain around the last few weeks.

The 3s openers John Windebank (3) and Ben Anscombe (1) faced the same issues as Burridges openers with the ball moving off the pitch and in the air. When captain Windebank fell for 3 the total was on 21 with Rob Anscombe (0) being trapped LBW by David Barron (10-2-27) earlier to join his son in the hutch. Omar Iqbal (25) then joined Paul Clarke (38 not out) and they rebuilt the Petersfield innings taking the score to 64 with Iqbal scoring some powerful leg side runs especially off young spinner Sam Houlton (8-2-40). Paul Clarke was playing the same sort of innings as Simon Bevis for Petersfield as wickets fell around him with David Longland (1), Josh Collins (8) and Oli Simpson (6). Dave Squires (10) came in at number 9 and stayed with Clarke for 5 or 6 overs but with the run rate continuing to climb the pressure got to Squires as he tried to hit out he lost his leg stump to returning opening bowler J Slaughter (7.2-2-8) to leave Petersfield floundering on 112-8. Dan May (0) and Alex Squires (1) could not stay with Clarke and despite his valiant and impressive innings Petersfield fell 48 runs short.

Burridge were a strong side but Petersfield proved again that they can compete at the higher level after promotion last season. Credit must go to Burridge who looked a good bowling side

Petersfield Man Of the Match - Paul Clarke for his valiant efforts with the bat after injuring his back in the field

Comedy Moment - David Longland nearly knocking himself out fielding a non-existent ball at mid-wicket   

Scorecard - http://petersfield.play-cricket.com/view_results_details?id=11908803