Local derby win for Petersfield 2s over Steep 2s

Petersfield II team successfully overcame local rivals Steep II by 82 runs at the The Heath to
gain maximum points  and virtually ensure at least second place in the league.  Their last
fixture is next week at bottom placed Hollybank, so maximum points are essential if they are
to have any chance of winning it.

On a scorching day Petersfield skipper, Richard Stephens won the toss and mercifully elected
to bat.  Openers Will Rice and Toby Austen started cautiously with the ball keeping  low from
one end.  Gradually both players got the measure of the Steep attack and Rice in particular
began to pepper the boundaries all around the ground.  By the first drinks interval on 14
overs the two had put on 90 with Rice on 59, but soon after he fell to a spectacular diving
catch on the boundary by former Petersfield Colt, Josh Bird.  His innings  was an object
lesson in how to play on a slow and at times, inconsistent wicket.  Steep then resorted to the
unusual sight of an all-leg spin attack from Martin and Cosgrove.  They successfully slowed
the scoring before Cosgrove bowled a hung-over Austen for a patient 24.  Chris Russell was
then joined by Ben Anscombe, but both batsmen became almost becalmed with the scoring
rate dropping dramatically.  Gradually both began to work the ball around picking up the
momentum before Anscombe was caught for 24.

Russell was now getting on top of the
bowling and dominated the rest of the innings to finish unbeaten on 72  with the Petersfield
total on 210 for 6.  After Rice’s onslaught the total was a little disappointing but nonetheless,
a challenging target for the visitors.

Steep started badly against good accurate seam bowling from Oscar Windebank and Nickey
Caddick.  Burke was well-caught by Rice off a skier in Windebank’s first over and Ellis followed
lbw in his next with the total on 4. Callingham and Dale slowly began to rebuild the innings
before Dale perished for 13.  Chris, Russell and Chris Wood replaced the seamers and
continued to restrict the scoring bowling 12 overs for under 30 runs, with Russell picking up
two wickets.  Callingham (55) continued to offer lone resistance but was joined by Yates and
they put on 32 runs at a good rate until Callingham was well caught by keeper Andy Butcher.

When Yates was lbw the Steep resistance was virtually over, although Josh Bird entertained
with some powerful boundaries before Frank Straw (3-14) and Richard Stephens (2-11)
mopped up the tail.

Petersfield: 210-6 (C Russell 72*, W Rice 59, B Anscombe 24, T Austen 24: E.Ellis 3-37)  

Steep 128 (T Callingham 55, N Yates 17, J Bird 17:  F Straw 3-14, O Windebank 3-25, R

Stephens 2-11, C Russell 2-24)

Scoresheet
http://petersfield.play-cricket.com/website/results/2363294