Petersfield’s second team returned to winning ways with a five-wicket victory at Purbrook’s second team in Division Five South East of the Hampshire Cricket League.

Petersfield turned up at Purbrook Heath looking to put behind them the poor performance from the previous week. The visitors won the toss and elected to field first.

Purbrook got off to a flyer as opener Will Harradine (95) hit Steve Gibson (two for 32) for a marvellous cover drive in his first over. The hosts were going along at six an over when Gibson removed George Hamson for five with the score on 39.

Harradine continued to sweetly time an array of boundaries, with Gibson and young Archie Maclean feeling the full force of his batting.

Petersfield took wickets at regular intervals, with Nathan Barlow (three for 51) and Rich Stephens (two for 32) giving the fielding side some hope.

At drinks Purbrook were 125 for five. Harradine seemed to slow down after drinks, taking the singles on offer as Petersfield attempted to protect the boundaries. Harradine fell for 95 with the score on 161 having hit seven fours and eight sixes in a superb innings of timing and power as he chipped Barlow to Gibson at mid-off.

The innings was wrapped up in the 30th over as Hari Walton took the final two wickets to leave Purbrook on 176.

Petersfield’s reply got off to a nightmare start as Bharat Katta fell first ball as he was caught at silly mid-off.

Dave Squires (41) played some uncharacteristic on-side shots which seemed to annoy the Purbrook bowlers, who resorted to the short ball theory as they tried to break the 100-run partnership between Squires and Gibson (81).

Petersfield were ticking along nicely at four runs an over and the pair reached drinks on 87 after 20 overs, with Gibson having overtaken Squires by this point.

The short ball theory persisted to both batters, with Gibson especially enjoying pulling and hooking to the leg side as Purbrook left the boundaries and mid-wicket on the leg side unguarded.

Squires was caught in the covers as he tried to hit out as the required run rate climbed towards six an over.

Jake Hastie (14) joined Gibson and hit two very nice cover drives before being caught behind. Gibson fell with the score on 159, having hit one six and 13 fours in his superb 81.

Stephens (19 not out) and Barlow (ten not out) saw Petersfield home in the 39th over.

Petersfield’s second team will travel to Wickham’s first team today (Saturday).