Petersfield v Liphook &?Ripsley II: PETERSFIELD took the honours against Liphook in a keenly fought encounter at the Heath on Saturday, winning by four wickets.

Winning the toss and batting first on a surprisingly dry surface given the amount of rain that had fallen in the previous 48 hours – Petersfield’s new covers passing their first test with flying colours – the visitors got off to a brisk start.

Despite losing opener Strong early for a duck, caught one-handed by a diving Dom Carson at slip off Ben Turk, Liphook reached 94-3 at the halfway stage of their innings and a big total looked in prospect.

However, despite five of the top six making starts, the highest scorer was Oliver with just 38 as the batsmen fell to a combination of rash shots and tight bowling from Damian Carson (4-27) and Keith Gumbe (2-19).

Dom Carson added two catches in the deep to go with his fine effort at slip.

Liphook’s final total of 176 still looked a decent score given the conditions and Field went into the tea interval rueing a few grassed catches and some loose fielding.

In reply, Field made a stuttering start against opening bowlers Lloyd and Russell before the middle order steadied the ship. Damian Carson (29) and Andy Barnes, with a quick-fire 31, gave Dom Carson, batting at number three, good support.

There was a late wobble, but Dom Carson took his side home in the 36th over, finishing on 56 not out.