After last week’s heartbreaking two-run defeat away at Waterlooville, it was a welcome return to The Heath for the Second XI, eyeing a first win of the season at home to St Cross Symondians (“St Cross”) – but with a lot of rain on the radar, would either side be able to force a result?

Players arrived and set the ground up, with technology proving to be the only challenge – an electronic scoreboard throwing a wobbly and much excitement around the Second XI’s inaugural performance in front of the new Frogbox (yes, that’s right, as well as reading about us, you can now watch our ‘masterclasses’ on line!). Petersfield skipper, Tom Horwood, and one of the St Cross “co-captains” wandered out to use a key for the toss with neither leader having a coin on their person. St Cross called “text side up”, but with the key landing ‘blank side up’, it was Horwood’s decision to make – he elected to field first. (Tosswatch – that’s two from three so far for Captain Badger).

On to the action, and it was Freddie Beer (75) and Steven Kidd (“The St Cross Kidd”, 33) who would initially do battle with Petersfield’s Nathan Barlow (1-68) and Steve Gibson (3-33). It was St Cross who initially had the upper hand, with The St Cross Kidd taking the initiative, in particular punishing the inconsistent line and length offered up from Barlow’s end. With the opening partnership passing the fifty mark, it was Gibson who then had flashes of inspiration to make a series of breakthroughs… First, Gibson removed The St Cross Kidd, clean bowled. Stuart Kidd (“The Peef Kidd”, 1-69) had come into the attack, and begun to take a little tap from Beer who was quietly amassing runs at one end, but Gibson would then go on a rout… In his action-packed sixth over Gibson first removed Phil Jackson (9), caught behind by James Longland, and then very next ball had James Moore adjudged LBW – setting the scene for a silly field hattrick ball, with two slips, a gully and a couple of close catchers either side. Massie Ayers (1), survived the fielding cauldron to avoid being the third victim of a hattrick, only to with her second ball balloon an edge to gully that was somehow not held on to, denying Gibson the rare feat of three wickets in four balls. With Gibson then bowled out, and change at the other end, it was over to the ‘spin twins’ of Richard Stephens (2-50) and Tom Horwood (1-47). Horwood was instantly in on the action, removing Ayers first ball, caught well by James Longland. It wasn’t long before Stephens then removed the dangerous Beer, caught by Stuart Kidd, and then very next ball removed Emily Lawler, caught by Ash Spencer. This set up the second hattrick ball silly field, with slip, leg-slip, gully and catchers around the bat… Once again, lots of fuss for no reward.

At this point, St Cross were 121-6, with Petersfield feeling like the tide had turned in their favour. Especially true when the visitor’s number eight, Harry Stone (87) wandered out to the middle with everything bar his bat! After a shaky start (Stone being dropped twice early off Horwood), Stone and Charlie Preston (47) began to cut loose… Olly Heapy (0-34) was brought into the attack, but struggled to find a consistent line and length and the runs began to leak, with Stone in particular suddenly beginning to strike the ball cleanly, including clearing the ropes. The scoring accelerated, and further Petersfield bowling changes sadly failed to stem the bleeding… Eventually, Stone was well caught in the deep off The Peef Kidd by Ned Kelly, but the home side then needed to field the last four overs a fielder light as Kelly banged his head in his efforts to take the catch… Stone may have gone (for what might be a record score for a batter who initially overlooked the need to take a bat to the middle), but having averted one rock Petersfield found themselves in another hard place, with Rishi Patel (30*) striking at a rate of two and a half runs per ball at the death, making good use of the extra gaps in the field vacated by Kelly’s departure. Barlow eventually got some reward for his toil, removing Preston just shy of his half century – Gibson taking an excellent low catch having made good ground (and, unlike Kelly, was able to stand up again after completing the feat). Glen Taylor (7*) accompanied Patel to the end of the allotted forty overs, with the visitors ending 302-8.

With Petersfield not exactly providing a masterclass with the ball or in the field, Rich and Denise Stephens did however redeem Petersfield’s fortunes with an excellent spread of a tea, thoroughly enjoyed by all! Petersfield’s top order, sadly not being able to take full advantage of the spread, got themselves padded up and began to think about how the chase would be conducted, especially with the nuance of rain on the way…

Petersfield’s openers Tom Horwood (28) and Steve Gibson (68*) strode out to the middle to face up to the visiting opening bowlers of Emily Lawler (0-37) and Phil Jackson (1-30). It was Petersfield who made the better start, with Horwood and Gibson both looking moderately comfortable in the face of good quality bowling, keeping the required rate in sight and (importantly for DLS targets) wickets in hand. The opening stand passed the fifty mark, but Horwood did eventually fall to Jackson, who took an excellently sharp (if nonchalant!) one-handed return catch above his head as Horwood looked to hit back over the top to keep the rate up. That brought the returning Ash Spencer (46*) to the crease, who immediately signaled his intent with lusty and well-timed blows to get off and running. With Gibson and Spencer well-settled, St Cross made changes in the bowling with Rishi Patel (0-47) and Katie Jones (0-29) coming into the attack. Neither could contain the host’s scoring, with Gibson bringing up an excellently-made half century – well batted Rexy! Charlie Preston (0-9) was given an over as the rain began to fall, but to no avail, as eventually the rain fell harder and the clouds got darker… Cover were pushed on, as players looked to the skies and did the necessary calculations on DLS and when the game should be abandoned. Good news for Petersfield, being that due to the top three’s positive intent and good running, combined with not throwing wickets away (particularly Gibson and Spencer!), they were seven runs clear of their target. With no end in sight to the rain, the captain’s shook hands and called it a Petersfield win, with the hosts 152-1 from 24 overs.

So, despite shipping over three hundred runs in the field (really not having the best of days, with only two bowlers going at less than a run a ball), and not actually being ahead of the full innings required run rate with a further 150 runs needed… Petersfield adjudged to be the winners by 9 wickets, and take a mammoth 23 points out of a possible 24 from the fixture. The a modern day heist to rivals the legendary feats of decades gone by!

With a win on the board and Petersfield up to fourth in the fledging league standings, the Second XI have a trip to bottom club Titchborne Park over the Bank Holiday weekend, hoping that an improved performance in the field to complement the batting prowess shown today will allow the side to bring a handsome victory back to celebrate, possibly with a celebratory trip into town for Petersfield Fest…