Colden Common & Otterbourne v Petersfield II: PETERSFIELD travelled to Colden Common on a hot and sticky day.

The game started late as the original pitch had been damaged overnight by tent poles. After much debate another pitch was agreed upon and Petersfield batted first.

Petersfield’s innings started slowly but solidly before debutant Chris Bott cut straight to backward point for a duck.

Paddy May (two) got a top edge to give Darren Jacobs (2-5) the first of his two wickets, and at the other end Dave Squires (14) was frustrating the opening bowlers with some late cuts before he mistimed a drive to point.

Wickets continued to fall at regular intervals until Rich Stephens (21) and Steve Gibson (six) came together and the tail wagged.

Mark Holloway (four), Dan May (eight) and Julian Evans supported Stephens and managed to get Petersfield beyond the 100-mark before Stephens got a brute of a delivery which hit a hole and took the glove.

Petersfield’s total of 102 was probably 30 runs short of par but was still a good effort on an unprepared pitch.

The home side started their chase slowly with openers Tj Brougham (17) and Chris Hadley (53 not out) tied down by Gibson (0-18) and Evans (0-16). Both openers survived a few close calls before Brougham edged to Evans at slip off Stephens’s bowling (1-30).

J Watts (27 not out) stayed with Hadley and allowed his partner to reach his half-century as the hosts won by nine wickets in the 27th over.