Under 15s start with a win

Portsmouth and Southsea U15 v Petersfield U15

Petersfield CC won by six runs

Scoresheet

http://petersfield.play-cricket.com/view_results_details?id=12017877

The cricket season is back underway and at a very sunny St James ground Petersfield new captain Dan May lost the toss and field were asked to bat first.

After some delightful strokes from Gabriel Braodhurst (35 not out retired) off the first over his opening partner played an ill judged smear off H Leggitt (3 overs 1 wicket for 14 runs) and lost his leg stump. This brought Ben Anscombe (34) to the wicket and between them Ben and Gabe put on 60 before Gab retired for a well made 35. William McCurrach (0) on his debut for the club played all round a straight ball to lose his leg stump (not the greatest of starts but it can only get better from that).Oli Simpson (10) joined his cousin at the crease and pushed the score along to 90  before being adjudged LBW to C Peach (3-2-13). Thomas Stevens (3) was next in and was quickly followed back to the pavillion by Matt Friend (7) as field tried to push the score on with overs running out. Ben Anscombe who had anchored very well the innings was the last man out in the last over and allowed everyone else to play their shots. Petersfield finished on a very competitive 122 with a very slow outfield.

Having agreed to change the ball with the opposition (due to the ball being like a bar of soap) at the break of innings. Petersfield opening bowlers Oli Simpson and Ben Turk bowled well to the Hampshire squad players H Gadd (23) and H Wratten (8) but too many wides and some good stroke play from Gadd and J Peach (40 not out retired) pushed the score up to 86 for 4 before Matt Friend (2-2-7) bowled a double wicket maiden to start to turn the game Field’s way. Wickets were now falling at regular intervals with skipper May (4 -1-24) and Harvey Baker (4-1-30).

Kit Classen (2-1-9) had J Wilcookson (10) caught by Oli Simpson at mid-wicket to leave Portsmouth and Southsea on 105-7 needing 19 off the last 2 overs to get over the line. With the last two overs to be bowled by Oli Simpson (4-0-29) and Ben Turk (4-1-13) it looked to be a tall order but Portsmouth gave it a real go and took the game to the last over need 9 from it. But with Ben Turk bowling an immaculate line outside off stump to H Giles (12) only a single and a bye came off the last over before Giles was clean bowled off the last ball to leave Portsmouth and Southsea 7 runs short of their target. Field bowled well but need to reduce the wides (17) in the next game just to take the pressure off themselves. Congratulations to Gabrield Broadhurst (celebrating making the Hampshire Squad) and to Ben Anscombe who gets better with each game he plays. Also Congratulations to Ben Turk and Matt Friend for some very economical and effective bowling.

MoM would be Ben Turk for excellent early bowling and great last over