STEEP deservedly won this local derby on Saturday after a superb batting performance from Mike Preston who had returned from his knee injury.

He was excellently supported by former Petersfield stalwart Tim Passingham.

Petersfield won the toss and decided to take advantage of the new ball on an excellently prepared hard wicket.

Good bowling from Frank Straw and Stuart Kidd removed the opener Alex Bone and number 3 Knight early in the innings, and Preston and Passingham were soon tied down to taking singles and the occasional boundary.

Jim Smallbone and Chris Wood continued the good work, bowling very tightly, and the pressure was beginning to build as the run rate slowed down to almost two an over.

At 88-2 off 31 overs, Steep were looking at a total of 150 which was never going to be enough.

Passingham and Preston then decided that they had to change gear and Preston hit Wood for two sixes over mid-on.

Passingham started to grow in confidence and played some excellent off drives. As their confidence grew the runs came faster and Preston accelerated to an excellent century, finishing on 107*.

Passingham eventually top edged Straw for a magnificent chanceless 87. Petersfield took three more quick wickets before Steep closed on 226 – a total that had seemed well out of reach.

Petersfield got off to a poor start with Andy Salmon caught and bowled in the first over and Fred Patten lofting a catch to mid-on.

But with the experienced Chris Wood and the hard-hitting Andy Barnes at the crease the match was still very much alive.

Wood then pulled a muscle and was unable to put any weight on his left leg and had to retire hurt.

Barnes hit some boundaries before top edging to cover and Grant Maulden and Phil Dickin were out in quick succession.

With Richard Dickin feeling unwell and Wood unlikely to return, Petersfield had their backs to the wall with probably only eight wickets needed by Steep.

Andy Morrison and Stuart Kidd came to the crease and started to rebuild the innings. Both played some excellent shots and kept the game alive.

Kidd was bowled by Noble for 24 but Morrison continued with Jim Smallbone, falling four short of what would have been a deserved 50.

Petersfield lost their eighth wicket and the determined Wood went back into bat – this time left-handed.

This time he lasted a few balls before getting a top edge into his face.

He had to be dragged, limping off the pitch with blood trickling down his face as Petersfield finally had to concede that the game was up.

Dickin, though unwell, was determined to make the game last and joined Smallbone who finished with a solid 24 before he was finally bowled by Curtis (3-26).

It was certainly Steep’s day and they won a competitive match, played in good spirit, by 78 runs.