Petersfield 2s V US Portsmouth 2s report

Petersfield 2s were looking to extend their unbeaten run to 7 games and after a poor batting performance but an conversely superb bowling performance they managed to beat US Portsmouth by 15 runs.

On another glorious Saturday at the Heath US Portsmouth captain called wrongly and it was no surprise as Petersfield skipper Frank Straw elected to bat first even with some late pullouts from the batting order.

Last week's openers Dave Squires (10) and Chris Wood (4) did not have things their own way as US’s opening bowlers got more out of the Heath wicket than any other attack as far as pace and bounce is concerned this season. Chris Wood was caught behind as the ball from T Allen (5-27) hit a crack and jumped to take a glove. Squires lasted a bit longer then Allen got a ball to misbehave as itl kept low this time and came off the bottom of the bat to take out middle stump. Frank Straw made a breezy 9 as he clattered a couple of boundaries square of the wicket before mistiming a shot to cover. Andy Butcher (0) came and went as he was clean bowled by S Jadhav (1-14) in the next over. Jack Butcher (7) and Ed Milford (16) looked to steady the ship but Jack was out caught at fine leg off a top edge.

Ed Milford was hitting anything in his hitting ark but misjudged a full delivery and was clean bowled by E Devine (2-29) to leave Petersfield 59-6. Tom Stevens (3) on his batting debut for the 2’s hung around for a while with Richard Stephens (19) but was caught again in the covers off S Lawrence (2-12). Rich Stephens was looking comfortable despite his hamstring strain but then T Allen returned and like Squires before him he got a ball that kept low and took the inside edge to be bowled. Omar Iqbal (5) kept plugging away against young Freddie Gadd (0-8) despite the legside line of the young leg spinner. Oscar Windebank(1) and Ed Bayliss (1 not out) helped the score to 99 before Iqbal was bowled to leave Petersfield 1 run short of their 3rd batting point.

A very modest total by Petersfield looked well within US Portsmouth’s range despite them only having 10 men. This was proven as they moved quickly to 37 with T Harris (18) and T Gadd (24) running well and hitting anything short to the boundary before Oscar Windebank (2-29) removed Harris LBW. Oscar then got another LBW as he hit Warburton (4) on the toe plumb in front of middle stump to leave the score 41-2. Richard Stephens (5-29) joined the attack and immediately got turn and bounce from the wicket to remove Gadd. Stephens was proving that his left arm spin was very very effective (especially at the Heath) and he picked up the next 3 wickets in quick succession thanks to some fine catches by Chris Wood and Dave Squires. At the other end Oscar Windebank was building the pressure with 2 maidens.

Rich then took his fifth wicket T Allen (0) missed a full toss to be clean bowled. Frank Straw (2-13) then returned to pick up the last 2 wickets to seal an unlikely but welcome victory for  Petersfield 2s in the 26 over.

The win puts Petersfield up to 3rd in the race for 1 of the promotion places in Regional Division 1 South.

Man of the Match Rich Stephens for his allround performance

Result Sheet

http://petersfield.play-cricket.com/site_admin/results/2651415

League Table

http://www.hantscl.com/leagues/RD1S16/

Petersfield 2s V Steeps 2s

Petersfield 2s returned to their home ground to play local rivals Steep 2s.

Petersfield skipper Frank Straw decided to bat first as the opposition skipper called wrong on a very hot and humid day.

Dave Squires (31) had a new opening partner in Chris Wood (70) due to the number of changes in the 2s side with the start of the holiday season. The pair put on an opening stand of 118, by far the biggest of the season as they put the Steep bowling to the sword with Chris Wood especially looking in a ruthless mood as anything short on leg stump was dispatched. In the 14th over the pair had put on 64 and jokingly discussed getting to a 100 partnership and then going for a sit down and a cold beer. After drinks Chris pushed on looking very comfortable with Squires just giving the strike to his partner at every opportunity.

Local celebrity Jhon Cosgrove (3-21) came on and broke the partnership in the 25th over trapping Wood plum in front of middle stump. Will Jameson (17) joined Squires and started well pulling Ed Ellis (1-38) to the midwicket boundary. With Petersfield looking to take advantage of the superb start and push the score on Squires was caught at midwicket as he mistimed a full toss straight up in the air to be caught at midwicket. Squires trudged off having scored his highest league score with a 50 beckoning.

Rory Newman (4) joined Will Jameson but Rory departed in a similar way to Squires to a full toss off of Cosgrove. Jameson put on 20 for the 4th wicket with Andy Butcher (22) before Jameson was trapped LBW by Ellis. Jack Butcher (3) joined his father at the wicket and timed his first couple of shots beautifully through the covers before being caught at mid off.

Skipper Straw (9) came and went in 11 balls scoring 1 four before holing out to deep long off to returning opening bowler Callingham. This meant Petersfield were tottering on 178 - 7 and in danger of not getting maximum batting points in their pursuit of 3rd place, but Rich Stephens (19 not out) and Omar Iqbal (6 not out) put on 29 in 5 overs to get Petersfield to 207-7.

With a required run rate of just under 5 an over Steep started brightly despite an attack of flying ants as just like last year the little biting insects were coming up through the holes made by the stumps. After the ants flew off, Petersfield removed Callingham (2) in the 7th over thanks to a cutter from Omar Iqbal (1-12) to take out off stump. Chris Wood (1-12) bowling with a possible broken toe removed opener Gareth Dale (16) caught by Jameson at mid wicket. Petersfield kept a tight reign on the scoring and Steep only lost their third wicket with the score on 52 in the 19th over when Kiddle (6) was superbly pouched by Andy Butcher behind the stumps 1 handed off Steve Gibson (1-37).

Mike Burkie (11) hit some lusty blows as he put on 20 for the 4th wicket with skipper Ellis (70) hitting good balls for a couple of boundaries to try and change the momentum of the game. He was caught by sub fielder Adam Childs at long off (on for Chris Wood who had succumbed to his toe injury), giving Frank Straw (2-30) his first wicket. M Bugh (21) joined Ellis and put on 53 in 6 overs as some wayward bowling allowed Steep to think they could chase their total down as the run rate (despite the quick fire 50 partnership) continued to climb. When Bugh departed caught and bowled by Dan May (4-31) the score was 126 in the 34th over Steep needed 10 an over.

Ellis who had looked in no trouble at all for the whole of his innings was the 8th man out as he was caught at deep long off by Rory Newman off May who had also bowled Will Yates (0) in the same over. Rich Stephens (1-22) then trapped Jhon Cosgrove (0) plum in front of middle stump to wrap up the innings as Steep finished on 153 in the 41st over.

A great win for Petersfield which pushes them up to 4th in the table just half an average point behind 3rd place. Petersfield are at home again next week as they face US Portsmouth looking to continue their good run since defeat to Salthill 6 games ago

Man of The Match - Chris Wood

Scorecard-  http://petersfield.play-cricket.com/website/results/2651413g