Petersfield’s 2nd XI won by seven wickets against Portsmouth in their first home match at The Heath for more than a month.

Looking at a dry, used pitch, Petersfield captain Steve Gibson lost the toss and Portsmouth elected to bat.

Petersfield played the first few overs a player short, giving Portsmouth openers Simon Jones (55) and George Patterson (four) extra holes in the field to pick.

Opening bowlers Steve Gibson (none for 24) and Hari Walton (two for 11) began tidily. Walton caused issues with pace and seam movement, clean bowling Patterson and next ball removing Jordan Howard (nought) with a lethal yorker to leave Portsmouth six for two.

Aston Higgins Caballero (35) tamely drove the hat-trick ball back at Walton but he could not quite take the catch knee high to his left.

Portsmouth built a platform through Jones and Higgins Caballero, with Petersfield turning to Adam Kidd (one for 16) and Olaf Swanzy (nought for 26) from the other end. Georgie Russel (nought for 20) replaced Swanzy and put in more hard graft for little reward against a resolute Portsmouth pair.

After drinks off-spinner Tom Horwood (five for 36) turned the tide in Petersfield's favour. Jones brought up his half century with a well-struck boundary off Horwood, but he soon had him caught on the boundary by Gibson while attempting to clear long on.

At 89 for three the game could have gone in either direction, but Horwood ran through the middle order, mixing up flight and speed with varying degrees of turn and bounce.

Ben Rolfe (seven) was beaten through the gate by a quicker short of a length ball that spun sharply to collide with middle stump.

Higgins Caballero misread the flight and chipped the ball to Gibson at mid on. Jude Pickett (nought) was stumped by wicketkeeper Ned Kelly.

Horwood took his fifth with the last ball of his spell, George Jones (two) picking out Gibson at mid on to leave Portsmouth struggling at 129 for seven,

Kidd clean bowled Steven Hendry (three) with the last ball of the innings and Portsmouth ended on 140 for eight.

Petersfield began their chase with Dave Squires (two) and Tom Horwood (58 not out) at the crease.

Squires was bowled by the wily Rick Marston (one for 20) not playing forward to a delivery of decent length.

Steve Gibson (one) looked to work the ball to the leg side against the natural angle of George Jones (one for 27) only to see it clatter into his stumps and leave Petersfield ten for two.

Isaac Bowerbank (four) batted solidly in support of Horwood but was run out attempting an ambitious quick single by Portsmouth’s wicketkeeper who achieved a direct hit with just one stump to aim at.

With the score 25 for three a lot rested on the shoulders of Horwood and number five Ned Kelly (65 not out).

They rebuilt through rotating the strike, with Kelly hitting the only six of the day. They eventually both reached well-deserved half centuries to bring up the hundred partnership and finish the job with almost six overs to spare.

On Saturday Petersfield travel to promotion-chasing Portsmouth Community.

Petersfield’s ladies W10 cricket team recorded their third win of the season on a humid Sunday morning at The Heath.

Petersfield lost the toss and batted. Having practised bat speed and power hitting recently, each pair set about seeking the boundary.

In all Petersfield found the rope 20 times, recording 18 fours and two Charlie Hawkes sixes.

Running well, scoring regularly but consistently losing wickets, Petersfield scored 167 for ten wickets to finish with a net score of 117.

Rachel Martel top scored with 19, with Charlie Hawkes and Claire Wright also making double figures.

In reply Petersfield suffocated Locks Heath with aggressive fielding, hunting every ball. Jo Russell took a catch behind from Alison Furse’s bowling, with Cat Christie then taking a diving one-handed effort off the same bowler.

Wickets from Beth, two from the returning Sophie Beecham and a Cat Christie run out sealed the win, with Locks Heath scoring 108 for six, a net score of 78, with the boundary count of 20 to six in Petersfield’s favour making the difference.