On a scorching day, Petersfield welcomed Easton & Martyr Worthy to the Heath.

30°C and clear blue sky, the Heath looked a picture as the skippers walked to the middle for the toss - an obvious decision surely incoming?

Or so everyone thought! Heads called correctly followed by the surprising words from the Easton skipper of "we'll have a bowl please".

The lack of rioting in the away changing room suggested that this was perhaps a team decision. This was backed up when the impressive Eddie Hansen dismissed both Archie Maclean (0) & Nick Insley (6) in his opening spell to leave Petersfield 37-2. Maybe this wasn't such a bad decision after all?

However, this just brought vice-captain Joe Clarke to the crease to join Shore. An important passage in the game as Petersfield's two most senior batters joined each other at the crease.

In the face of the best opposition bowling so far this season, the pair gradually built their partnership, both bring up 50s midway through the innings and taking the score to 149-2 after 30 overs when drinks were taken.

With Easton toiling in the heat (albeit still fielding impressively), the pair upped the ante a little bit and Shore eventually brought up his 100 with a straight six off opposite number Burton and the pair brought up their 200 partnership soon after.

When Shore (114) was then bowled looking to push the score on, the main question was "will Joe now bring up his maiden century?"

Serene progress was made into the 90s, then through the 90s. Then a calm single took him to 99 not out.

Into the final over, however, and Joe couldn't get over the line, ending up agonisingly 99 not out at the end of the Petersfield innings of 266-4.

A gutting end to a fantastic innings and one that displayed fantastic maturity and would have been very deserving of a hundred! Based on this evidence, a maiden hundred is just around the corner for Petersfield's talented all-rounder!

In reply, Oscar Maclean returned to his fiery best to put the breaks on the chase and picked up the first wicket courtesy of a fantastic Fraser Anstey catch at cover. All bowlers impressed in their early spells, however it was Frank Straw who was the pick of the bowlers. Extracting turn and bounce in picking up 3-24. Chris Russell picked up 2 late wickets too to ensure another bonus point as Easton finished on 194-8 with darkness descending!

Another strong team performance and 23 points picked up. Home again next week against Froxfield, with the 1s looking to maintain their strong start.