Burridge III v Petersfield II: PETERSFIELD’S second team won by 126 runs against Burridge’s third team in their Regional Division 1 South encounter.

Batting first, Field openers Frank Straw (66) and Richard Stephens (11) got off to a solid start, Straw dealing mainly in boundaries with the occasional single.

Straw’s dismissal, bowled by Candy, brought Chris Russell to the crease. Russell built his innings gradually, with the first 50 runs coming off 67 balls, before he hit the accelerator with a full range of attacking shots.

He needed just 15 more balls to reach his century, being particularly severe on Candy, depositing the spinner into the car park on several occasions. Russell finished unbeaten on 125 off just 88 balls, putting on an unbeaten 154-run partnership for the fourth wicket with debutant Joe Clarke, who impressed scoring a very composed 40 not out.

In reply, Burridge never threatened and finished on 127-9, with three wickets for captain Straw and a couple for Russell, who also grabbed a neat catch at gully to complete a memorable all-round performance. The win takes Petersfield to second place in the table.