Petersfield return to home soil for this local clash against Waterlooville, with the Second XI keen to avenge a two-run defeat earlier in the season. Waterlooville captain correctly called “Heads” and on a belter of a summer’s day faced with a heat-cracked pitch, the visitors elected to have a bat first. (Tosswatch, that’s wins from nine attempts this season).

Waterlooville openers Michael Clements (1) and Will Chrystal (4) faced up to Steve Gibson (2-31) and Nathan Barlow (2-42), with the hosts having the better of the early exchanges. Barlow running through the opening pair, having Clements and Chrystal both caught at first slip by Rich Stephens, both wickets carbon copies of each other. Mujaba Agha (18) and Dan Broome (67) began to forge a partnership, before Tom Horwood (1-44) brought himself into the attack. Two boisterous appeals later, Horwood had Agha trapped in front with a sharply spinning delivery. Opposition captain Charlie Ellis (56) immediately signaled his intent, hitting Horwood for six first ball over long-on. Broome and Ellis kept the score ticking along, putting away the odd loose delivery from Horwood and rotating the strike well against Rich Stephens (1-34). Horwood removed himself from the attack after a couple of expensive overs, tossing the ball to Tom Mason (1-31) who began well, bowling tidily on his first Second XI outing of the season, removing the dangerous Broome (who was in full attack mode due to him feeling ill in the heat), caught well in the deep by Gibson, ending an important partnership that had taken the score to 158-4. Stephens had his reward soon after, removing the other half of the partnership having Ellis caught by Wilf Vincent. With the two half centurions removed, and Stephens bowled out, Wilf Vincent (0-25) came on to bowl the last few from one end – he bowled well, generating good pace, just without reward on this occasion. It was the reintroduction of Gibson that sparked another couple of wickets, bowling Dave Connolly (29) at an important time as he had just begun to extend his long levers… Gibson then had two-in-two, having Harry Smith caught by Vincent at cover. However, for the third time this season Gibson was unable to covert a hattrick with James Doherty letting the ball safely go past off stump. That was the end of Petersfield’s wicket-taking exploits – a couple of boundaries off the final Vincent over, Waterlooville ended their allotted 40 overs with a decent score of 211-7.

A splendid Tea provided by the Kidd family awaited the players after three hours in sun – a fine spread, including the very welcome ice lollies that went down a treat in such hot conditions!

With players fed and watered, Petersfield’s opening pair of Tom Horwood (21) and Steve Gibson (2) wandered out to the middle to face up to Charlie Ellis (0-28) and the stuttery run up of Will Chrystal (2-25). Gibson was the first fall, pushing one back at Chrystal who took a sharp catch above his head. Horwood and Isaac Bowerbank (68) looked to build from there, Horwood playing a couple of eye-catching drivers before being unfortunate to have one rear of a length and catch his glove en route to first slip. Derek Kelly (19) joined Bowerbank, and pair battled to see of the opening spells before beginning to up the scoring rate off James Doherty (0-28) and Mujaba Agha (1-48) eventually took the score over the 100 mark before Kelly was bowled by Agha attempting to go for a big shot. Alex Reid (1) fell shortly after, this time bowled by Martin Shephard (1-38). Stuart Kidd (35) joined Bowerbank, with one of first duties being to watch the young wicketkeeper bring up a well-constructed half-century, before beginning to up the ante himself with a few firm blows down the ground. The pair out on over 50 together, before Kidd was run out attempting a quick second and was regrettably well short. Bowerbank sadly fell shortly after, attempting to turn one through the leg side from off stump from a swinging Michael Clements (3-23) delivery, to be caught and bowled. This left Rich Stephens (13) and Tom Mason (1) to rebuild and look to score the remaining 39 runs with just 4 wickets in hand. Precious deliveries were dotted up, however, as Mason struggled to get going before Stephens was bowled by Clements trying to blast the ball through the leg side in search of needed boundaries, and Mason was then also caught and bowled by Clements to leave Petersfield struggling at 183-8. Nathan Barlow (10*) and Rich Lack made a fist of the chase, however, with Lack hitting his first ball for six before being removed by Becky Hurt (1-3), with Wilfred Vincent (2*) handing the strike wisely over to Barlow who hit a couple of strong blow in the last over to keep Petersfield in the game right up to the last two balls – a valiant effort. Petersfield end their 40 overs 203-9, with Waterlooville winning by 8 runs.

Given the selection dramas of the week, despite getting into a position where a win was possible, a makeshift side can be proud of running a good Waterlooville side close – fine margins, and more intent to score from a greater proportion of deliveries largely being the difference between the sides, all told. The Second XI are back on the road again next week, with the longest away trip of the year over to high-flying St Cross Symondians.