A local derby of sorts with two of the oldest clubs in the world meeting at The Heath in Petersfield. In overcast conditions with a threat of rain and a new ball likely to swing Hambledon elected to bowl first having won the toss.
Hambledon got off to the perfect start with Chris Salmon(0) getting a ball which jumped off a length and ballooned back to the bowler C Berry (2-18) for a simple caught and bowled. Skipper (Chris Russell (69 not out) joined opener Dave Squires (15) in the middle. The pair ground out a 46 run partnership on a difficult pitch which allied with some good bowling kept the run rate down. In the 19th over with the scoring rate needing to be lifted, Squires cut to backward point only to watch A Barfoot take a diving catch.
With the shine off the ball and the opening bowlers seen off, the stage was set for the scoring rate to be increased. Chris Wood scored a quickfire 14 before being stumped off S Ripner (1-36). Will Jameson (1) then slammed a ball back at the bowler Wayne Norman (2-36) to be caught and bowled. Ed Milford with instructions to hit out lasted 3 balls. This left Petersfield 75-5 when last year's skip Rich Stephens (35) joined Chris Russell and the pair put on 62 in around a run a ball with Stephens hitting a couple of big sixes to get back to nearly his best. Oscar Windebank and Omar Iqbal running hard to support a very tired Chris Russell to take the Petersfield score to 158 off their 42 overs.
When play resumed the Hambledon innings got off to the same start with opener J Bridgeman backing away from a rising delivery from Oscar Windebank (2-22) to give a simple return catch. Chris Wood then induced P Silvester (2) into a lofted drive to be caught in the covers by Omar Iqbal,who then repeated the catch off Oscar to remove the other opener J Waldron (18) in the next over. Hambledon were reduced to 21-3 inside 10 overs. A 60 run partnership between A Barfoot (26) and Paul Brighton (33) threatened to derail Petersfield's bid to win the game. But the skipper and ex-skipper combined again to take the game away from Hambledon as Russell (4-11 off 8 overs) took both wickets in the space of 3 overs one stumped and the other caught behind by Stephens. Omar Iqbal (2-10) cleaned up the next 2 wickets before Chris Salmon took just 6 balls to finish the game off as Hambeldon went from 80-3 to be bowled out for 102.
A much improved fielding performance from Petersfield was the catalyst for the fine win allied with a superb all round performance from Chris Russell, backed up by ex-skipper Rich Stephens with bat and gloves.
Scorecard
