Following on from two thumping victories against Titchborne Park and Portsmouth, it was the turn of Froxfield (and their strong association with our sleeve sponsors the Spice Lounge) to take on the juggernaut that it is Petersfield Second XI’s charge to comfortable mid-table mediocrity. With the short trip up Stoner Hill safely navigated, captain Tom Horwood was keen to continue his recent run of excellent tossing form, but that fluke of probabilities ended with an incorrect call of “Tails” which gave Froxfield’s leader his first home toss win of the season – Froxfield, unsurprisingly, electing to bat first. (Tosswatch – that’s 8 wins from 13 tosses for Horwood).

A new opening pair for Petersfield, with Steve Gibson (2-35) from one end and Alex Bartlett (3-25) from the other doing a good job of working over K Hiscock (0) and H Bhatlapenumarthy (44) in the early stages. Bartlett in particular was impressive, attaining late swing and seam movement produced lots of plays and misses, but also the early breakthrough with Hiscock gloving a rising delivery that he tried to leave through the waiting James Longland behind the stumps. Bartlett soon had a second, with Z Jenkins being well held by Fraser Anstey at Gully with off a thick rising edge that held well at the second attempt above his head to his right. Bartlett completed his wickets haul by having V Balasundaram caught by Nathan Barlow to complete a fine effort with the new ball. Gibson was having less luck from the other end, with Bhatlapenumarthy hacking him across the line on occasion, with boundaries being the result and he was able to keep the Froxfield run rate steady despite the intense pressure at the other end. As Barlett continued to beat the bat for the remainder of his eight overs from one end, young paceman Rufus Morgan (2-23) came on from Gibson’s end and brough with him a different threat. After initially struggling to find the right length, Morgan quickly settled into a rhythm, bowling with excellent pace with every ball feeling a showpiece event, back up with an aggressive field behind square on the Off-Side. Morgan soon had his reward, removing R Jenkins (4), taking the edge and being well held down low by Anstey once more, this time at Second Slip. Morgan had a second reward for his excellent work, clean bowling the mainstay of the Froxfield top order, Bhatlapenumarthy, taking the top of his off stump. Meanwhile, Nathan Barlow (1-23) had replaced Bartlett from the other end, and struggled to settle into the right areas for the pitch but did find one stroke of luck with a short, wide delivery to P Patel (3) being edged to Chris Driver at First Slip. With Morgan bowled out, and Barlow removed, the visitors turned to spin both ends with Fraser Anstey (0-31) being gallantly given the first-choice spinner’s end by Tom Horwood (2-26) who lumped it with the other… Anstey found some good turn but struggled a little with consistent flight and length. Horwood had more luck from the other, applying pressure and picking up two wickets along the way, first, having his opposite number M Ingram (29) caught in the deep, well held by Barlett at Cow Corner. Morgan had replaced Anstey but was a little leggy following his earlier efforts so Gibson had the last two overs from his original end and had his first wicket of the day soon after with J Jenkins (14) plinking one up into the offside to be caught by the hovering Derek Kelly at Extra Cover. Over to Horwood, who then had his second, spearing a quicker ball through the defenses of R Murray to clean bowl his. Gibson and Horwood then combined to conclude the host’s innings, a slower ball from Gibson being skewed into offsite where Horwood scurrying several yards to his left, to pull out a full-length dive and take a one-handed catch just above the turf, to draw a look of dismay from S Fry (32) who looked bemused at what had just happened. Froxfield all out for 165 in 38.4 overs.

A rare treat awaited the players at the interval, with a simple but pleasant Tea provided by our hosts, complete with classic fillings of sandwiches (egg and cress the highlight), and proper full-fat milk to make a decent cuppa with!

Players fed and watered; it was time for Petersfield to begin the chase with openers Tom Horwood (20) and Derek Kelly (8) walking out to the middle to face up to D Deakin (1-22) and B Balasundaram (2-34). The visitors were off to a flyer, with Horwood striking five firm boundaries early doors, but was unable to repeat last week’s run fest, being undone by a ball from Balasundaram that stopped in the pitch and was spooned off the leading edge to Mid-On. Kelly followed moments later, edging behind off Deakin. Fraser Anstey (2) was then wandering back himself, playing back to one from Balasundaram that on reflection he will have been disappointed to have, to be bowled on middle stump. A period of rebuilding followed for Petersfield, with Chris Driver (44) and Richard Knight (16) watchfully building an important partnership that got Petersfield to almost half the required score, until Knight was eventually bowled by H Bhatlapenumarthy (3-28). Bhatlapenumarthy began to make things difficult for the visitor’s middle order, removing James Longland (0) third ball, being caught behind, and then Stuart Kidd (9) was tamely caught and bowled off the same bowler to complete his quickfire rout. Petersfield were now in a spot of bother, making hard work of the chase at 92-6… But, cometh the hour, cometh the talented fourteen-year-old! Young Rufus Morgan (47*) strode out unperturbed by the situation and quietly went about his business, putting bad balls away and rotating the strike excellent with Driver, batting with maturity well beyond his years (and beyond the maturity of the majority of the Second Xi squad, if truth be told!). The pair looked like they had it in the bag, with the softer ball not causing anywhere near as many challenges as when newer, but disaster struck with a further forty runs needed, with Driver adjudged LBW off J Jenkins (1-14). Alex Bartlett (13) came to the middle, and looked assured, playing a couple of classy shots, before regrettably falling with another thirteen runs required for the win, being well caught at cover attempting to drive over his head. That brought Steve Gibson (0*) to the middle, who acted largely as mentor and runner in support of Morgan, who did the rest – the youngster hitting a couple more lovely boundaries, and clearing the ropes on the leg side to score the winning runs, just three short of what would have been a well-deserved Half-Century on his Second XI batting debut. Well batted, young man! Petersfield win by two wickets, with 5.4 overs to spare.

So despite making hard work of it (and some of our senior players needing to think a little about their approach to run getting in the face of sub-par targets), that’s three consecutive wins for the Second XI and removes any mathematical risk of relegation – a pleasing victory, not least because of the clear emergence of a future talent in Rufus Morgan, putting in a true match-winning performance, backing up the excellent platform of Alex Bartlett’s bowling and some excellent catching in the field. With just three games to go, it’s a penultimate game at the Heath next week, where the Second XI will host Hambledon, looking to avenge a ‘spicy’ defeat at Broadhalfpenny Down earlier in the year.