THE only success Amport had all day against Hants County Division One table-toppers Andover 2nd XI was the winning of the toss. Nick Bone, the Amport captain, chose to bat on a hard track and on a hot day.

It should have been a recipe for a long day in the field for the home side but it never happened as Amport's batting collapsed in dramatic fashion to the Andover bowling.

Steve Simpson had Amport reeling from the start with two wickets in the first over and struck again in his next before Chris Breeze plundered another to leave Amport looking down the barrel of a shotgun at 17-4 after just four overs.

Lee Ayers (14) and Bob Wadsworth (22) at last got some runs on the board for the visitors but the home bowlers were well on top and Amport, skittled for an embarrassing 58 all out the previous week against Lymington 2nd XI, managed only nine more runs this time as they collapsed like a pack of cards to 67 all out against the spin of Matt Hooper (3-5) and Steve Williams (3-17).

Andover's reply was not without incident as they chased the low total with Leighton Bone (1-32) and Richard Baugh (1-20) once again giving a forlorn Amport something to cheers as they removed both the Andover openers with the score on 31. Robert Palmer was run out when Andover tried to sneak a cheeky run but the home side made it four wins on the trot as they comfortably reached the total in 16 overs.

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On the hottest day of the year so far Andover 3rd XI earned their first league win of the season with a thoroughly well deserved and convincing victory against Liss in Hants County Division Three.

Asked to field first, Andover had to wait until the 11th over for their first wicket, which was achieved when Mike Adams bowled the free scoring Liss skipper Richard Pleece (18) with the score on 41 and followed it with another wicket thanks an ill-judged single and smart fielding from Andrew Green.

With three breakthrough established the introduction of Andy Hooper (5-55) into the attack ensured the Liss batsmen would have to bat well to re-establish themselves in the game. Hooper picked up wickets at regular intervals and was well supported by Mike Adams (2-20), who also dismissed the other Liss opener, and later by Mark Copplestone (2-21).

But it was the veteran Hooper who did the damage with ho led the way with another outstanding 12 over spell as Liss were bowled out for 103.

In reply, Andover lost Mark Coplestone (4) early on, but an excellent stand of 53 between Dale Green (27) and Rob Oostendorp (39) ensured that there would be an anxiety free ride for the Andover team. Both players looked in fine form, and it was a surprise when both got out.

However, skipper Andy Page (12no) and Tim Brown (16no) safely reached that target with no further alarms. A comprehensive win for Andover, and particularly encouraging was the excellent team spirit and fielding performance of what is still a very young and inexperienced side.

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Andover 4th XI are still looking for their first win having fallen tantalisingly close just eight runs from victory against Liss 2nd X1 last Saturday.

Liss made 134-9 on a London Road made slow by mid week rain. There was a welcome return to form for Andrew Clark who took 3-39,Terry Neale had 3-40 and John Baxter bowled with great control and accuracy to finish with 2-17 from 12 overs.

The Andover reply was slow and steady in the face of some accurate bowling. Unfortunately, Andover lost wickets at crucial times and fell behind the run rate. Andrew Clark (26) and Stuart Robertson (26) then began to rescue the situation but it was always an uphill struggle. Terry Neale tried to keep the momentum going but lost partners and 14 were needed from the final over.

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A career best and maiden half-century from Paul Laker (80no) was the highlight as Andover 5th XI lost for the first time this season when going down to Michelmersh & Timsbury 3rd XI in the Hants Combination League last Saturday.

Batting first, Andover lost two early wickets but Laker, whose unbeaten knock lasted for 34 overs and included a six and nine fours, set about repairing the damage in a stand of 83 with 11-year-old Jonty Hadfield (14), a further partnership of 41 with Laura Winstone (18) and then Alex Bliss (8no) to push the score to 148-4. Jake's knock In reply, Laker (2-24) claimed a wicket with the first ball and Nasiem Ala (1-28) was the other wicket-taker as an unbeaten stand of 116 saw Michelmersh home with overs to spare.

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Andover's Sunday 2nd XI kick-started their Border League campaign with a comfortable 149-run win against Swindon 2nd XI that owed much to a mammoth second wicket stand of 258.

Dale Green (101no) continued his fine form with another unbeaten century and South African Gareth Tait (130no) scored his first 100 for the club. Both played shots all around the wicket and the Swindon bowling had no answer.

In the field eight bowlers were used in an attempt to bowl Swindon out. Eventually they subsided to 122 all out with Ed Jackson taking 3-10, Mark Coplestone 2-11, Peter Wright 2-16 and Matt Hooper bowling tightly for 1-6 off five overs. Andover Skipper Tim Brown came on to pick up the final wicket thanks to an excellent stumping by 'keeper Cilly Van De Merwe.