2s continue promotion push

Petersfield II maintained their winning run and promotion push with an emphatic 67 run win over Michelmersh on The Heath.  A determined all-round display secured maximum points, despite missing eight of the team from the previous fortnight.
Stand-in skipper, Rob Alliston won the toss and had no hesitation in batting, although a heavy shower before the start reduced the game to 40 overs each.  Toby Austin and Chris Wood put on 51 for the first wicket in 12 overs without any alarms until, Wood was caught in the gulley from a ball that lifted off a length.  Austin continued onto his 50 with useful support from Will Jameson and Rory Newman, hitting 9 fours.  But with the score at 108 he was caught behind in the 25th over.  14 year old Ben Anscombe and Nicky Caddick, took the score to 134 before Ben was joined by father Rob, and these two accelerated the run-rate with a mixture of good strokes and intelligent running between the wickets.  These two added 60 in 9 overs before Rob Anscombe succumbed for a very good 44.  Ben Anscombe finished with a very commendable 30 not out when the innings closed on 205 for 6.
In reply Michelmersh suffered the worst possible start losing Bundy for 0 bowled by Oscar Windebank in the first over.   Alliston and Windebank bowled a tight spell of 10 overs restricting the visitors to 32-2, Alliston having claimed the key wicket of Ranger who scored a century the previous week against Steep.  These two were replaced by the off spin of Chris Wood and Toby Austin who bowled tightly to restrict the scoring and picked up wickets at regular intervals.  Moore was looking threatening until he was very well caught by Newman in the deep for a powerful 34.  By the end of their spell, Michelmersh were 103-6 so with the game almost won, the aim was to make sure they were bowled out in order to gain maximum bowling points.  Alliston and Windebank duly obliged, each taking 3 wickets.   The side were well-led by Alliston and all bowlers supported by very good fielding.
Petersfield 205 – 6
T Austin 54, R Anscombe 44, B Anscombe 30*, C Wood 25
Bowling: J Lowman 2-25, M Birch 2-58
Michelmersh 138
J Moore 34
Bowling: O Windebank 3-31, R Alliston 3-34, C Wood 2-37, T Austin 1-29