MATCH REPORT: Petersfield vs Portsmouth Priory

Scrappy, a touch nervy at times, but in the end ‘Field completed a comfortable victory over a 5-man Portsmouth Priory

Batting first, Will (26) and Alex (21) got off to a good start, putting on 69 in 6 overs. But then wickets fell in a cluster against some deceptively wily spin bowling and we were bowled out for 99 in the 11^th over.

It needed a good bowling performance to turn things round and Damian duly obliged, quickly pinning opener Kent LBW for 0 and Alex completing a sharp stumping off a leg-side wide to remove other opener Lewis for 6.

Priory never recovered from the loss of these early wickets and, despite a flurry of late sixes, eventually subsided to 67 all out. Damian (3-14-2) and Liam (2.1-6-1) were the pick of the bowlers; Shaun and Will picked up a wicket apiece.

It may have been harder work than looked likely at first, but a win’s a win, and it keeps us breathing down the necks of the division’s top three, who can’t afford any slip-ups if we keep winning.