Yet another gloriously hot day welcomed DACD to the Heath this Sunday with the visitors correctly calling heads at the toss and sensibly electing to bat first in a 35 over game.

Field opened up with Olly Heapy and Anya Holtshausen and DACD opener Tim Barton quickly attacked as they started strongly scoring 58 runs in just over 8 overs until a mix up saw Hughes run out by a Alex Morrison throw to bowler Heapy who despite missing the stumps with the ball in his hand managed to remove the bails with his second attempt. 1st change bowler Georgie Russell then removed opener Barton in her first over, caught Archie Maclean, for a well made 40 from 35 balls, 62 for 2. Here things went a little wonky for field as Morrison struggled to find his length and Alex Andrews attacked before retiring after reaching his fifty from just 43 deliveries. Nathan Linkhorn with his new reduced pace and increased accuracy approach joined the attack with skipper Chris Russell and the run rate slowed to 4 an over with Russell removing Thomas Wright for 21 caught behind by stand in keeper Joe Clarke. This brought Tim Dix and Pete Croxson to the crease and they dovetailed well to add 75 from the last 11 overs as Petersfield cycled through their bowling attack with the DACD innings closing on 221 for 3 from their 35 overs, with both Russell's and Nathan Linkhorn being the standout bowlers on the day.

After some of Alex Morrison's homemade lemon cake the Petersfield young openers of Archie Maclean and Georgie Russell took to the field and the younger Maclean with 3 boundary fours in his first 6 balls started at a rate until he managed to kick the ball onto his stumps in the 2nd over. Luca Semengo-Turner then came and went and when Georgie Russell lofted a drive and fell to a good catch at mid off having already taken two boundaries from the 7th over Petersfield were in some trouble at 34 for 3. Graham Linkhorn dug in but fell with the score on 44, and his son Nathan hit some lusty blows in his 12 before departing which brought skipper Russell and all rounder Joe Clarke to the crease. These two knew that they had to score quickly and retire to give field any chance of the win. Clarke really cut lose engaging his inner Henry Shore to race to a 22 ball 50 including two fairly large sixes. Anya Holtshausen replaced Clarke and batted with sensibly in trying to keep up with the 8 an over required rate pulling a short ball for four before falling to Hughes. Russell then retired for a 52 ball 50 bringing new batters and tailenders Heapy and Lack to the crease. With strict instructions not to defend Heapy took a four and a six and then 4 byes from his first 3 deliveries before trying several times to get stumped and finally succeeding scoring 12 from just 8 deliveries. 39 needed from 5 overs with number eleven Morrison and his bad toe joining the evergreen Lack at the crease. Lack employed his spinorama pull shots to the legside, and took 7 from the over from Croxson and his bouncy spin, 32 required from 4 overs. Some scampering and a few extras saw 10 from the next over, 22 from 3 overs needed. Dot ball to Morrison who then sensibly decided that with Clarke and Russell waiting to return he should advance down the wicket for glory or bust. Bust it was as he was stumped, 22 from 16 balls with Clarke returning to the crease for emotional support. Lack then stepped up and hit a six, yes a six, and a single from the first ball of the next and penultimate over left Clarke on strike for the first time since his return. He then planted his first ball in the trees over long on and followed up with another winning six caught over the rope by waiting batsmen Russell to finish with 67 from just 26 deliveries. Rich Lack had a very credible 23 not out from 15 deliveries as the Petersfield church bells rung loudly in honour of his performance.

Overall a very entertaining game that saw 444 runs scored from just under 69 overs, if in doubt break the Clarke out!