Petersfield Cricket Club’s first team earned a comprehensive 197-run victory at Chawton in Division Two of the Hampshire Cricket League.

Petersfield won the toss and elected to bat.

Ben Anscombe was bowled early on by Chawton captain Jacob Channon, which brought James Walton and Henry Shore together. The Chawton bowlers got into a rhythm and made it hard to score, and managed to get the wicket of Shore for 16.

Walton and Tom Sherry played positively and ran well to put pressure back on Chawton. The pair managed a partnership of 78 before Walton departed for 55, hitting one to backward point.

Chad Henderson settled in on his debut, and the new pair scored quickly, dispatching any poor balls to the boundary. Sherry eventually fell leg before wicket for a well-made 55.

Joe Clarke was promoted up the order and hit a quickfire 52 not out, while Henderson (69) reached his half-century and brought up the 100 partnership between the pair in the process.

Petersfield finished their allotted 45 overs on a formidable 287 for six, with four batters making half-centuries.

A good start with the ball was important for Petersfield as Chawton have some dangerous batters, and defending on a small ground was going to be tough.

Clarke and Oscar Maclean worked their magic and decimated the Chawton top order.

Superb catches from Adam De Swardt and Shore set the tone and the victory was never in doubt as Petersfield bowled Chawton out for 90. This clearly demoralised the opposition, with stumps being kicked over and bats and helmets being hurled on the walk back to the pavilion.

The openers bowled superbly. Maclean finished with figures of four for 23 off nine overs, and Clarke capped off another good day with figures of three for 50 off nine overs.

Hari Walton picked up his first wicket for the first team and Henderson mopped up the tail.