The Second XI made its longest away trip of the year, trekking across the county to Winchester for a clash with top-of-the-table St Cross Symondians (“St Cross”) at their River Park Recreation Ground. With various players (captain included) ending up in the wrong location, there was limited time for a warm up before the toss… A toss that was won by the visitors, a call of “Heads” giving Tom Horwood the choice and electing to have a bat on a stifling day, against the backdrop of huge festival being held just the other side of the river. (Tosswatch – that’s six wins from ten attempts for Horwood so far this year).

Mixing it up little, a new opening pair of Nick Insley (7) and Ned Kelly (7), the latter opening due to Cass Marks going to the wrong ground and having to slip down the order due his tardy arrival, wandering out to face up to Finlay Graham (4-21) and Stephen Kidd (1-21). It was the St Cross pair that made the early inroads – despite a few byes keeping the run rate up. Insley fell to Graham (caught behind), before Kelly (who had already ridden his luck) was caught and bowled by Graham after he tamely chipped one up in the air. That brought Isaac Bowerbank (26) and captain Tom Horwood (4) together looking to rebuild. It was a regrettably short-lived partnership, with Horwood foolishly missing a straight full toss to be bowled by Kidd, with Cass Marks (1) being bowled shortly after by the slingly action of Shopon Ahmed (2-29). James Longland (14) joined Bowerbank with the pair starting a resolute rebuild in the face of accurate bowling. Despite looking solid, Longland was eventually undone, caught off Ahmed to become his second victim. Bowerbank regrettably then bowled very early in the spell of Thomas Good (1-24), leaving Petersfield reeling at 73-6. Steve Gibson (17) and Derek Kelly built a decent partnership, batting patiently and playing complementary roles – Gibson turning the strike over, Kelly putting away the bad balls. The pair added 46, taking the score past the hundred mark before Kelly was bowled by Harry Stone (1-16). Gibson followed shortly after, trapped in front by the returning Graham. Stuart Kidd (15*) took the total to an air of respectability, marshaling the strike well with the tail, with Nathan Barlow (1) being caught to give Graham his fourth wicket of the day, and Tom Mason (1*) joining Kidd to see out the visitor’s forty overs. Petersfield end 144-9.

A rare treat at the interval, with a fine Tea spread put on for us by St Cross – but to top it all off, air conditioning in the pavilion! The players fed, watered and cooled off, time to return to the action…

As the players wandered back out to the middle, the festival nearby had turned up a notch with reasonable covers of anything range from Duran Duran classics to “Stacy’s Mum” blaring out over the outfield (that latter being disturbing sung loudly and proudly by Ned Kelly), it was over Nathan Barlow (0-27) and Steve Gibson (2-33) to attempt to make early inroads… Gibson duly delivered, removing Stephen Kidd (0) without troubling the scorers, held by Stuart Kidd at Square Leg. Angus Tilney (28) and Adeel Raja (57*) began to get settled, putting away the odd loose Barlow delivery and looking to hit Gibson over the top. Tom Horwood (0-24) entered the fray and looked dangerous in the first part of his spell, turning the ball sharply past the left-hander’s edge and troubling the gate of right handers on occasion. But the limited bowling accolades for Petersfield all have to go to Gibson, who earned a second reward for his toil having Tilney caught behind.

That is where the report on the cricket will stop – in order to protect bowlers’ blushes, the rest of this report has been sealed by court order… Let’s focus instead on the other moments that often go unnoticed. Looking a late call up to the World Cup Third Place Play-Off, Stuart Kidd was done by an errant bounce from the outfield, but undeterred, he managed to flick the ball up with right foot behind his body to grab the ball one-handed. Silky skills! There was also a significant amount of dancing, with Isaac Bowerbank and Ned Kelly forming the strangest looking boyband you’ll ever see, with choregraphed clapping, swaying and spinning between deliveries behind the stumps… Then, of course, there was young Bowerbank’s cartwheels between overs…

Returning to the cricket briefly, notable mentioned to Raja and Ollie Devon (50*) who brought up unbeaten half centuries to seal the victory for the hosts. St Cross win by 8 wickets (the result not being subject to the aforementioned court order…).

So, a “tough day out” for the Second XI, against a strong St Cross team with depth in bowling and big hitting that Petersfield somewhat lacked on the day. Petersfield return to the Heath next week for the visit of Titchborne Park, a game the Second XI really do need to win – hopefully more positive cricketing action to report, with no Festivals due to take place in the vicinity of the ground…