Moving on from last week’s flattering nine-wicket win at home to St Cross, Petersfield went in search of back-to-back victories away at Titchborne Park, on a roasting hot Hampshire afternoon. With a journey to the ground involving team tailgating, and accidental convoy members somehow getting lost, the players did a gentle catching warm up as the respective captains wandered to the middle to do the toss. Petersfield skipper Tom Horwood called “Tails” but regrettably was incorrect, with his opposite number unsurprisingly electing to let the visitors swelter in the field first… (Tosswatch – that’s honours even now, with Horwood 2 from 4).

Formalities over, on to the action… Titchborne openers Daniel Tabrah (44) and Rory North (0) strode out to face up to Steve Gibson (3-16) and guest opening bowler Stuart Kidd (0-28). Petersfield had instant reward, with Gibson clean bowling North in the first over. Tabrah and Mark Carlisle (31) set about rebuilding from the early setback, and took the score past fifty, seeing off the remainder of Gibson and Kidd’s first spells and then look to nullify the duel threat of Tom Horwood (2-35) and Rich Stephens (2-36). Initially, both batters kept the scoreboard ticking over, waiting patiently with the slowness of the pitch and sweeping well. But the spin twins did then take four important wickets in the space of just 16 runs to turn the game back in Petersfield’s favour. First, Stephens removed Tabrah somehow bowling him through is legs. Horwood then removed his opposite number, James Belfield (1), who was caught unnecessarily well by Derek Kelly, who (like a scene from Toy Story) remained motionless until he thought no one was looking and at the very last minute fell to floor, extended his arm and saw the ball nestle nicely into his palm. Stephens then removed Carlisle, LBW, secured with trademark finger wag, with Horwood then having Dan Blackburn (0) also plumb in front third ball. That brough the score to 102-5, a solid effort from Petersfield in the early afternoon sun. With the spin twins bowled out, Jacob Clay (2-27) and Derek Kelly (0-21) came on from either end. Kelly bowled nicely for a first spell of the season, with scant reward, but Clay was able to pick up a important couple of breakthroughs – first taking Jojo Willaims (caught by Richard Knight, reading it well at short third man as the ball looked to die on him), and then Phil Williams (well held by Ash Spencer at mid-on, making good yards to the ball). Towards the end, Horwood turned back to his trusty openers Gibson and Kidd. Gibson was able to take a couple of late scalps – first taking Craig Jones (7), who in the book was caught by Ash Spencer, when really that should say “probably would have been caught by Chris Driver, were it not for Ash Spencer shouting louder, running in front of his and stealing the catch”. Gibson then removed Ash Strong (40), bowling him with an excellently executed slower ball. There was still time for one last piece of action, Rocky Carlisle (6) and Danny Troop (4*) attempting a run off the last ball of the final over, with the composed Kidd just about fast enough to beat the youngster Carlisle to the stump and knock the bails off – an important moment, securing Petersfield maximum bowling points, and seeing Titchborne all out for 171 in exactly 40 overs.

Tea of the ‘bring your own’ variety was enjoyed in the sunshine, as Petersfield’s batters pontificated on the best way to go about chasing the 4.3 runs per over target of 172 to win…

Play resumed, with the sun blaring down still, seeing Petersfield openers Tom Horwood (6) and Steve Gibson (4) wander to the middle to face up to Craig Jones (1-16) and Danny Troop (4-20) – a difficult pair to face, the latter with an odd, stuttered run up and a low, slingy action, with the former having a Gandalf-esque beard that flapped distractingly around in the breeze as he ran in. It was the distracting pair that were on top in the early exchanges, with Troop having Gibson well caught at first slip, and then Horwood yorked himself from a full in swinging delivery from Jones. That brought the experience of Ash Spencer (58) and Chris Driver (15) to the crease, who worked hard against the accurate bowling and slow pitch to rebuild – Driver in particular showing resilient mentality, flirting with a Duck for 22 balls before getting off the mark! The pair took the score from a perilous 13-2, to a more resolute 78-3, before Driver’s vigil was brought to an end by Dan Blackbun (1-58). This incident began the partnership that took Petersfield a long way towards the total, with Spencer joined at the crease by wicketkeeper James Longlond (58*). The pair were positive, Longland in fact getting off the mark with two sixes over square leg off the off-spin of James Belfield (0-28). Despite both settling into their roles well, the partnership wasn’t without drama, as Spencer needed treatment (a friendly massage from a teammate) and drugs (we believe but haven’t had it confirmed that these were over-the-counter painkillers) for a side strain incurred whilst attempting moose a full toss into the neighbouring estate – Spencer writhing in so much discomfort that birds of prey began to encircle overhead… Unperturbed, the pair continued their onward march, Spencer bringing up a gritty half-century before plinking to mid-on off the bowling of the talented Rocky Carlisle (1-26). Things got a tad more difficult from there… 140-4 saw Ned Kelly (0) join Longland in the middle, but was the first to unsuccessfully navigate the revolving door, spooning the ball to Point off the returning Troop, who went on a bit of rout of the Petersfield middle order, removing Richard Knight (0) LBW, and then clean bowling Derek Kelly (0) to take his fourth wicket and leave Petersfield nervous at 148-7 having just seen a trio of ducks. But as the saying goes: “where there is James Longland, there is hope…”. Longland was joined by the experience of Rich Stephens (5*), who supported Longland nicely for the remainder of the innings. Longland brought up his half century, with probably the worst shot of his innings, being dropped for four by a fielder at square leg who let the ball burst through his hands. Stephens got in the act too, hitting a crisp lofted drive down the ground to bring the scores close to level. With Stuart Kidd (dnb) nervously pacing around, the anxiety on the boundary was thankfully short-lived, as the winning run was scored off the inside edge of Stephens’ bat, with Longland loudly and gleefully calling a single to short fine leg. Petersfield win by 3 wickets, with five and a half overs to spare.

An excellent all-round performance with the ball on a tough wicket, with wide open spaces making a ‘not so youthful’ Second XI cover a lot of ground in the field, followed up by gritty performances from, in particular, Spencer and Longland with the bat to see Petersfield home to a second successive win and important 23 points from possible 24 (the final wicket lost costing Petersfield their maximum allocation) – lifting the side to the brink of the promotion places with a fifth of the season gone. On the road again next week, the Second XI will be travelling down south to visit Portsmouth, looking to extend that winning feeling…