On a muggy overcast day Petersfield travelled to Cheriton to play 2nd place St Cross fifths. The pitch was a green seamer. Pedtersfield skipper called correctly and inserted the home side.

St Cross either had great faith in their batting or were worried there would be a ball with their name on it as they threw the bat from the first ball. St Cross captain James Moore (0) was out 4th ball to Steve Gibson (7-1-3-17) caught by the returning Paddy May at extra cover.

Adel Raja (21) and Joe Stallard (42) continued to play their shots and ride their luck as a lot of the shots were arial but with the outfield very very slow Petersfield had the scoring rate under control. Once Raja lofted a cover drive to Gibson at deep extra cover off Heather CLarke (6-0-2-28) the squeeze was well and truly applied by Dave Squires (8-0-4-28) and Chris Wood (8-0-0-21).

Squires removed Ben Powell (0) LBW, then with the ball swinging late had Rhys Thomas (0) and Joe Stallard (42) caught at gully by James Streatford-tuke, the 2nd catch a superb tumbling catch. In his 6th over a thick edge from Will Tall (5) was superbly caught by Keane Farley standing up. The score had progressed from 46-3 to 89-7 when Tall was out.

Chris Wood again proved economical and kept things tight but should have had a wicket as Andrew Strickland (31 not out) lofted a cover drive to mid off but Petersfield dropped their only catch of the day (much better than 2 weeks ago) which would prove costly as Stickland scored off the bad balls (sounds familiar) ably supported by E Sewell (17) Steve Gibson returned to finish the innings off with 2 good wickets but the score progressed to 142 as Sanderrock was last man out again caught by Paddy May.

The last 3 wickets put on 53 to leave Petersfield to chase 143 for victory.

The St Cross bowlers bowled tightly and picked up father and son pair James Stratford-tuke (1) and Tom Stratford-tuke (0) for just 15 in the 10th over. Keane Farley (9) then got a good delivery to be bowled with the score on 29-3 when the rain arrived. After a break of 20 mins and with no covers the pitch which was already green started to misbehave and became a sticky dog of a wicket.

Paddy May (13) batting at 3 was joined in the middle by Rich Stephens (40) and the pair were pushing the run rate required down with some well placed shots when a quick single was attempted by May but it went straight to the fielder and he could not regain his ground and was run out the score on 47. Chris Wood (15) joined Stephens at the crease but the St Cross bowlers were keeping it tight as the pitch deteriorated with each ball taking divots out of the damp wicket to leave it resembling a tee box in golf at the end.

Petersfield were finding it very difficult to score more than singles with 4s needed. When Chris Wood got out trying to loft Raja over his head the run rate was up to 10s with 6 overs left. Rich Stephens who was nursing a side strain and pulled calf muscle batted very well on a tricky pitch but in the end Petersfield were 27 runs short of victory.

Man of the Match - Dave Squires for his 4 fer (best he has bowled for a few years)
Moment of the match - Paddy May’s catches the first and last of the innings superbly taken over his head.