Petersfield played Sarisbury 5ths at Penns Place on a perfect Saturday afternoon in Petersfield, with the sky as blue as anything skipper Squires chose to field first with a good covering of grass on the wicket and a new ball to play with.

That decision to field proved to be wrong as some very good batting from Sarisbury openers C Slater (27) and Andy Green (108) put on 44 before a mistimed pull off Rob Allerston (1-59) went straight to Olly Heapy at square leg. Sarisbury were 108-1 at drinks but as the old adage says there is always a wicket after drinks and Graham Linkhorn (1-59) got Steven Patrick to loft a ball to cow corner where Jacob Clay took a very good catch.

This did not stop the Sarisbury batters from continuing the onslaught as centurion Green was particularity brutal on anything short or on the leg stump. Skipper Squires decided to try and change Petersfield’s fortunes by bringing himself and Del Kelly on to bowl. Even though he said it himself it was a good change as Squires removed G Baxter (36) in his first over clean bowling the batter with the score on 194. Squires continued to cause the Sarisbury batters issues as he removed Colin McGrath and skipper Thomas Lebland in the 2nd over. His 3rd over saw Noah Hamlet caught and bowled but the score continued to climb as centurion Andy Green continued to have no issues.

After a number of close lbw decisions Squires finally got his first 5 fer as he removed Green in his 6th over, Squires having dropped him when he was on 98 in the previous over off debutant Del Kelly (0-36). The score was on 270-7 with that wicket and some late order hitting took the score to 333-9 a massive total even with a lightening fast outfield.

After tea the Petersfield chase got off to a bad start as Noah Hamlet (2-24) removed David Longland with his 2nd ball as he missed a full toss which would have crashed into middle stump 1/3 of the way up the stumps. Marcus Sampson (26) and Suraj Sashidharan (21) rebuilt and took the score to 44 before Suraj also missed another straight one.

Marcus and Del Kelly (56 not out) again looked solid until Marcus lofted a drive to cover. Petersfield did not have the batting power of Sarisbury but a 58 run partnership between skipper Squires (25) and Kelly frustrated the Sarisbury bowlers and again a wicket fell just after drinks as Squires got a thin edge to a bouncer from Hamlet through to the keeper. Jacob Clay came and went before Graham Linkhorn (5 not out) helped Del Kelly to compl.ete a well made half century with an inside edge to fine leg. Petersfield finished on 161/5 and picked up 9 bonus points.

A very good day for skipper Dave Squires with wickets, runs and 2 catches. Also Del Kelly who looked to be just the player the middle order needs.

The game was played in a great spirit with both sides helping each others youngsters and as was commented on by many ‘should be how the game is played’

Man of the match has to be Dave Squires with a 5 fer, 25 runs and 2 catches.