Just another scorching day on the Heath greeted the Ladies team as they welcomed Cove to the ground. Cove won the toss and decided to bat first with the start delayed briefly by someone deciding it would be a good day to have a camp fire 50 yards from the pavilion.

Opening bowlers Georgie Russell and Holly Haynes started well with good pace and the only runs scored in the first 3 overs were byes, saving Georgie's overs Field then quickly introduced the spin from the five wicket hero from the previous game between these two sides of Simone Hellyer and the pace off approach kept the run rate under control. The decision to stick with a slip paid off as Heather Clarke took a sharp chance from Simone's bowling dismissing Cove opener Wightman for a 29 ball duck in the 9th over with the score on 26. League top run scorer Lara Gear and new batter Rachel Lynch then built a partnership and took advantage as Petersfield cycled through their bowlers and at times lost their usual accuracy and fielding prowess. Seeing how well the pace off approach was working Skipper Izzy Russell also tried the leg spin of Laura Ineson which showed promise. Left armer Rosie Bruce then removed Lara Gear for a well made 51 with her usual inswing which brought loan player and prolific batter Naomi Lynch to join her half sister at the crease. Things went as expected with Lynch senior attacking every ball and racing to 30 from just 15 deliveries giving a difficult chance to Zoe Stride in the deep in the process. Georgie Russell demanded the ball and then induced a top edge from Lynch that was gratefully gathered by Izzy Russell behind the stumps and when Russell then yorked new batter North with her next delivery and Emily Heapy (2 for 16 from 5 overs) took two wickets in the next over including Rachel Lynch for 18 Cove were on 140 for 6 from 25 overs. The tail wagged led by Kelly Davies with a sensible 15 from 34 balls until Hellyer returned with two quick wickets in consecutive deliveries (7 overs, 3 for 20) before Russell came back with her off spin to close things down finishing with 2 for 5 from her 5 overs. The extras count on a hot day was too high at 58 with Field bowling nearly 5 extra overs, Cove finished on 183 for 8 - could the extra runs at the end make the difference?

After another wonderful collective tea Petersfield openers Zoe Stride and Claudia Cottle started well against the bowling of Lara Gear and Lynch junior with Stride especially cutting the ball well through the off side. The introduction of the accurate Lexi Gear slowed the run rate down and the 1st wicket fell with the score on 46 just before drinks as Cottle missed a straight delivery and was adjudged LBW for a tidy 23 from 29 deliveries. This brought Georgie Russell to the crease and she played with more restraint than last week as she and Zoe built their way towards the Cove score. Stride brought up her maiden half century for Petersfield before retiring with some heat exhaustion and Heather Clarke joined Russell with Petersfield in a very strong position however when Clarke pulled the returning Rachel Lynch to the mid wicket fielder for 8 with the score on 159 things took a dramatic turn. Laura Ineson, Holly Haynes and Izzy Russell all departed in 9 deliveries with the addition of only 2 runs and suddenly field were 161-5 needing 23 from 7 overs. Georgie Russell took a four and a two from Naomi Lynch (7 overs 3 for 27) and nerves were calmed before Lynch got one to pop on the surface which Russell lobbed up to short cover for 59 from just 51 balls, 17 needed with 4 wickets remaining and U13 Emily Heapy at the crease with Simone Hellyer. More drama ensued with first Heapy and then Hellyer departing for 1 and 3 respectively and the score only on 174 for 8, 10 needed from 19 balls. Lara Gear returned to bowl and a Rosie Bruce four through the slip cordon was greeted by loud cheers, the returning Zoe Stride then took a single to leave Bruce to face Rohanna North (2 for 42). A wide delivery tied the scored and then Rosie, who is not especially known for her batting, lofted a shot into the leg side that just cleared Rachel Lynch to bring up the Petersfield win by 2 wickets with 10 balls to spare. An excellent game played in the right spirit which was hopefully enjoyed by all.