On an overcast and windy day in Bedhampton, Petersfield were looking to get their season back on track against a team just above them in the league. Bedhampton won the toss and elected to bat against Petersfield who due to the Jubilee and the Lords test match only had 10 players available.
Bedhampton skipper Jamie Nottage (17) and Paul O’Leary (55) got Bedhampton off to a quick start hitting some nice shots and pushing lots of singles before Petersfield skipper Steve Gibson (4-26 off 7 overs) got one to take the outside edge which flew high above keeper Keane Farley who got a glove to it but could not hold on Rich Stephens ran round behind Keane and took the catch, great work from the pair of them.
Petersfield then turned the screw with Gibson picking up Gary Hounsome (1) LBW plumb in front and opening bowling partner Hari Walton (2-38 off 7.5 overs) removing Harvey Hounsome (2) leaving the score on 30-3. First change bowlers Rich Stephens (2-13 off 8 overs) and Oscar Walker (1-8 off 5 overs) kept the run rate and scoring to a minimum with only Paul O’Leary scoring any runs as Lee Keeping (3), James Cocks (8) and Daniel Frostick (4) came and went. The score had moved on to 60-5 at drinks with Petersfield’s fielding 100% better than the previous 2 weeks
Edward Morell joined Paul O’Leary at the crease and the pair played very sensibly, waiting for any bad balls and keeping the good ones out. The run rate never climbed much above 3 runs per over. Archie Maclean (0-17 off 6 overs) got his first bowl of the season and showed he can be very effective as he handled the changes of angles superbly bowling to a right and left hander. He caused problems for both batsmen and was unlucky not to pick up a wicket, but a very encouraging opening spell from the 14 year old.
Dave Squires (1-16 off 4) replaced Stephens at the other end and managed to break the partnership when Morell tried to loft him over mid-on but caught a leading edge and was caught by Stephens. With the score pushed beyond a 100 the remaining batsmen did their best to accelerate the scoring but the return of opening bowlers Gibson and Walton put paid to that with Gibson picking up Paul O’Leary for a well made 55 (although he may well have been out LBW to Stephens on 20!). Hari Walton picked up Martin Jackson (9) and Gibson wrapped up the innings clean bowling James McBeath (0) to leave Bedhampton on 128 off 37.5 overs.
Petersfield’s run chase got off to a steady if not spectacular start before Keane Farley (11) was caught for 11 off Jamie Nottage (2-15 off 8). He was soon followed back in the pavilion by Rich Stephens (5) and Dave Squires (1) who were both unable to continue their form from the previous week. Skipper Gibson (42) in at 3 could only watch from the other end as the wickets fell. Rob Walton (7) came in and timed the ball well (again) before he played a lofted drive to be caught off Gary Hounsome (2-17 off 8) with the score now 40-4.
As the opening bowlers bowled out things began to change as good batting and some indifferent bowling allowed Suraj Sashidharan (14) and Gibson to get the required run rate off each over. Suraj was eventually out running past one from Daniel Frostick (2-23 off 5 overs) and he was followed by Gibson a few overs later, Gibson was caught at midwicket by Steve Cocks who at the last minute stuck a hand out and grab the ball inches off the ground.
The score was now on 105-6 so Bedhampton sensed a chance to wrap up the innings but Hari Walton (6 not out) and Ted Toth (17 not out) played it very sensibly and then with 4 overs left Ted decided to put the game to bed and with 2 fours and a massive 6 over long on to knock the runs off with 2.8 overs to spare. Ted has now been the finisher in his last 3 games for Hawkley and Petersfield to see his teams home.
Man of the match – Steve Gibson with another superb all-round display from the skipper
Moment of the match – Ted Troth’s massive 6 to take the wind out of the Bedhampton chase for victory.