Breaking news – cricket has happened in Clanfield and it wasn’t freezing cold! The ‘Chris Wood’ thick jumpers of last week were promptly put away to be replaced by factor two million suncream, as Petersfield made the short trip down the A3 to bake in Clanfield oven for the afternoon. An inspection of the pitch revealed something crumbly and green – a crucial toss to win. Regrettably, captain Steve Gibson proudly called “Tails” in front of his on-looking team, only for Heads to emerge on top. A chorus of groans from the visitors on the outcome, knowing that on a hot day with pitch likely to be at its best early in the day the outcome would be being asked to field first…

Clanfield openers Michael Collins (5) and the league’s leading run-maker Matt Bradley (102) made their way to the middle to begin proceedings, facing up to Petersfield’s opening bowlers Steve Gibson (0-26) and, in a change that saw off-spin getting the new ball, Tom Horwood (1-37). With Bradley looking solid at one end, it was Horwood who got early breakthrough removing Collins caught at gulley. Sadly, that was the last breakthrough for a considerable length of time, as despite a few chances coming and some disciplined bowling (from Gibson in particular), Bradley and Tommy Hughes (70) made Petersfield sweat in the sun – scoring at a run-a-ball without taking too many risks off Anya Holtshuasen (0-36) and Fraser Antsey (0-53). It wasn’t until Heather Clarke (1-36) came into the attack that another breakthrough was reached with one staying a little low and Hughes couldn’t adjust having initially looked to play with a crossed-bat to be bowled with the score on 151. Out of the frying pan and into the fire for the visitors as Thomas Wright (70*) came out to the middle and almost immediately looked to put weary bowlers to the sword… He and Bradley dominated proceedings for the next part of the innings, up until Bradley brought up a richly deserved century. Celebrations over and back to business but only succeeded in picking out Gibson on the boundary to allow Rich Stephens (1-50) to take the visitors’ third and final wicket of the innings. With the score on 238 at that point, Clanfield weren’t quite done, as Wright continued his onslaught, hitting seven sixes in all off a combination of Stephens and the returning Gibson, as he ended unbeaten on 70 from just 38 balls, with Phil Weaver (2*) playing a supporting role at the other end. Clanfield ending their allotted 40 overs on a mammoth 274-3.

Plenty for Petersfield to ponder over tea, but in time-limited fashion as with officially qualified umpires and scorers (with walkie-talkies and everything) overseeing proceedings, an official start time of 16:08 was set for the second innings to get started…

16:10 and Petersfield openers Tom Horwood (63) and Steve Gibson (64) made their way to middle to begin the daunting pursuit of 275 to win, faced with the challenging swing of Kuthubudeen Adul Malikoo (1-30) and the surprisingly heavy ball of Robert Brien (0-8). It was, however, the batting side that had the better of the earlier exchanges, Horwood in particular looking to be positive against the pace of Malikoo, despite the increasingly variable nature of the pitch. The pair saw off the opening bowlers, to subsequently do battled with the slingly Tommy Hughes (0-24) and accurate off-spin of Oliver Sedgwick (0-49). Horwood bringing up a well-deserved half-century (his fourth of the 2025 league campaign) with a lofted drive off Sedgwick for four, shortly before the pair brough up their century opening stand. Horwood did eventually fall to youngster Joseph Whitfield (1-39), plinking a attempted pull shot to wide mid-on, but at this stage, Petersfield were not far behind the “worm” set by their host, the hope being that the power in the top-middle order would be a first of the chase… Sadly that wasn’t to be the case, with Clanfield captain Sean Swift (5-27) and Matt Bradley (2-10) coming on to run through the batting line up. Adam Childs (19) looked fluent but became the first to fall to the wily slow bowling of Swift, clean bowled. James Longland (5) followed shortly after, caught at mid-off attempting a blow down the ground off Bradley. In amongst this flurry of wickets, Gibson brought up his second half-century of the season, but was soon removed just as he looked to let loose, caught well at cover off Swift. Suraj Sashidharn (1) was then clean bowled by Bradley to round out the Clanfield player’s all-round good day. Rich Stephens (10) was then bowled by the returning Malikoo, and with Stephens being the last visiting player to make double figures, the rest of the day was the “Sean Swift” show, removing Rich Lack (4), Fraser Anstey (0) and Anya Holtshausen (0) in reasonably short order. Petersfield did limp through to the end of the 40 overs, with Sid Suraj (0*) and Heather Clarke (0*) unbeaten at the end. Petersfield ending 196-9, loosing by 78 runs.

A difficult, hot afternoon in the sun down in Clanfield for the Second XI, but a game again played in good spirits with some impressive individual performances against a strong opposition that will give Petersfield hope for the rest of the season, with a return to The Heath next week for a home game against Hambledon.