Petersfield turned up to Purbrook Heath on Saturday looking to put behind them the poor performance from the previous week. Petersfield won the toss and elected to field first

Purbrook got off to a flyer as opener Will Haradine (95) hit Steve Gibson (2-32) for a marvellous cover drive in his first over (think Zak Crawley off the first ball of the ashes). Purbrook were going along at 6 an over when Gibson removed his opposite number for 5 with the score on 39.

All the action was at the other end as Harradine continued to sweetly time almost every bad ball to the boundary (and a lot of good balls). The score absolutely rocketed along with Gibson and young Archie Maclean feeling the full force of the openers batting.

At the other end Petersfield were taking wickets at regular intervals with Nathan Barlow (3-51) and Rich Stephens (2-32) at least giving the fielding side some hope and at drinks Purbrook were 125-5 the run rate having been pegged back to 6 and over from 9s by the two first change bowlers.

Harradine seemed to slow down after drinks, possibly thinking of a hundred as he started to give his batting partners a chance to face the Petersfield bowlers taking the singles on offer as Petersfield attempted to protect the boundaries. Harradine fell with the score on 161 for 95 having hit seven 4s and eight 6s (losing 3 balls in the process) in a superb innings of timing and power as he chipped Barlow to Gibson and mid-off.

The innings was then wrapped up in the 30th over as Hari Walton (2 wickets in 2.5 over for no runs) removed the final 2 wickets to leave Purbrook on 176

Petersfields reply got off to a nightmare start as Bharat Katta fell first ball as he was caught at silly mid-off. Dave ‘Squirrel’ Squires (41) played some uncharacteristic onside shots one a squirrel scoop (as it was dubbed by teammates) which seemed to annoy the Purbrook bowlers who resorted to England style short ball theory as they tried to break the 100 run partnership between Squires and Steve Gibson (81).

Petersfield were ticking along nicely at 4 runs and over and the pair reached 87 by drinks at 20 overs with Gibson having overtaken Squires by this point. The short ball theory persisted to both batsmen with Gibson especially enjoying pulling and hooking to the legside as Purbrook left the boundaries and midwicket on the legside unguarded.

Squires was caught in the covers as he tried to hit out (having become becalmed) as the required run rate climbed towards 6 and over. Jake Hastie (14) joined Gibson and he hit two very nice cover drives before being caught behind. Gibson fell with the score on 159 having hit 1 six and 13 fours in his superb 81.

It was left to the first change bowlers Rich Stephens (19 not out) and Nathan Barlow (10 not out) to see Petersfield home in the 39th over. The win moves Petersfield up to 12th in the league just behind today's opponents but crucially 4 places above the drop zone.

A marked improvement in their fielding and bowling setup the opportunity to chase the total down and again proving a couple of partnerships can make all the difference .

Man of the Match - Steve Gibson

Moment of the match - Young Hari Walton's one handed pickup and throw in the covers (ala Jonty Rhodes) which was a coat of paint away from a run out.