First win of season for Petersfield 3s

Petersfield CC - 3rd XI Vs Fareham & Crofton CC - 3rd XI

Result: Petersfield CC - 3rd XI - Won by 42 runs

Type: League: Hampshire Cricket League Regional Division 3 SE

Petersfield 3s ended a run of 6 defeats on the trot with a 42 run win against Fareham and Crofton 3s. Petersfield lost the toss and were asked to bat first on a dry if overcast day at Penns Place. With Fareham bowling some short and accurate bowling openers Ben Anscombe (19) and John Windebank (15) put on 31 runs for the first wicket as they looked to give Petersfield a solid platform to build on. This was achieved but then as Fareham’s bowlers were running out of steam John got a rising delivery which took the edge onto his thigh pad to loop to the keeper off Faizel Shahani (9 overs 1 wicket 30 runs). Ben Anscombe soon followed as young fast bowler Sam Watson (10-1-23) finally got a short delivery on target and young Ben could not get his bat out of the way to be caught by the keeper running forward. This left Petersfield on 42-2 but Rob Anscombe (16) and captain James Stratford-Tuke (19) added a further 25 runs (with a few close run outs) before Anscombe gave Connor McMain the first of his 3 wickets. Petersfield then had a mini collapse and it looked like the top 4s hard work would go to waste as they slumped from 67-2 to 81-6 with Connor McMain (7-3-21) the main man as he bowled a good line and length and got bounce from the Rugby ground end.

James was joined at the crease buy young opening bowler Oli SImpson (31 not out) and together they stopped the rot and pushed the score to 106 before James was caught in front of  his stumps by Luke Patterson (8-1-21) having made 19. The skipper came off telling number 8 batsmen Dave Squires (15 not out) to bat for 9 overs and get as many runs as possible. Oli Simpson and Squires did just that and took the score along to 137-7 as Petersfield batted their overs out for the first time this season when asked to bat first. With a slow outfield the score was very competitive and Petersfields bowlers had something to bowl at.

With the millionaire shortbread made by Sonia Anscombe going down very well with both teams Petersfield took the field to try and force the first win of the season.

Oli SImpson (5-3-10) ripped into Fareham with some quick and hostile bowling ably assisted by Dave Squires (10-0-28) as Fareham slumped to 23-3 with John Windebank taking 3 catches with the gloves making the hardest of chances look insanely easy (careful John you could find yourself behind the sticks for a long time). As Oli bowled his 5 overs (due to age restrictions) he was replaced by Ben Cox (8-3-16) who bowled some wonderful deliveries as he ripped the middle order of Fareham apart leaving them on 42-6 with only Andy McMain (20) showing any sign of resistance as he took advantage of the one bad ball per over from Squires to keep the scoreboard moving along with 3 fours and a six much to Squires’s frustration who apart from those deliveries was keeping things tight. Older Squires was replaced by his son Alex (3-1-16) and the young lad did what his father could not do and had Andy caught by Windebank who took the catch at short cover having sprinted up from behind the stumps. Fareham where now looking a bit downcast as the score moved to 59-7. Young opening bowler Sam Watson (16) came in and enjoyed some success playing some nice leg side shots before he was caught at midoff by Oli Simpson off Joe Clarke (3-2-16). His next delivery was played on by Morgan Wellington (4) and the young 13 year old had another hat-trick chance (his 2nd in two games), number 11 Faizel Shahani played the hat-trick ball out very well to deny the young lad his reward.Nick Woodruff (3-1-7) came on and bowled well in his last game before jetting off to India to learn even more about spin bowling at Delhi University. He took the final wicket as Faizel skied a cover drive to Alex Squires in the covers and he made no mistake taking the catch to seal the win for Petersfield with Fareham 42 runs short of their target

A very good team effort in the field sealed the win with great fielding, great catching and superb bowling proving the difference between the sides

Man of the Match - Oli Simpson for the runs to set up the victory, allied with his bowling and fielding.

Moments of the match John WIndebanks performance behind the stumps