ANDOVER, Division 2 runners-up
Back from left: Hari Williams, Babu Veettil, Charlie Ayers, Mike Adams, Nathan Birks. Front: Matt Hooper, Steve Williams, John Nyumbu, Glyn Treagus, Sam Ashman, Matt Knight.
Back from left: Hari Williams, Babu Veettil, Charlie Ayers, Mike Adams, Nathan Birks. Front: Matt Hooper, Steve Williams, John Nyumbu, Glyn Treagus, Sam Ashman, Matt Knight.
Andover finished runners-up behind Hambledon to clinch the second promotion spot from Southern Premier Division 2 – but it was a mighty close call !
But for tenth-wicket pair Matt Hooper and Mike Adams, Andover might not have got the six bonus points they needed from their final match against relegation threatened Hook & Newnham Basics II to ensure finishing above Old Tauntonians & Romsey.
All appeared well in the London Road camp when Harry Blackburn (40) and Charlie Ayers (21) guided Andover to 105-3, but Hook spin pair Aniket Divecha (3-23) and Will Gardner put an entirely different complexion on proceedings by reducing the Lions to 148-9, six wickets falling for 43 runs.
Andover had only one batting point in the bank at that point and with OTs known to be in a winning position against Fair Oak, it was time to some experience heads.
Promotion
Cue Hooper (41 not out) and Adams (22 not out) to add a precious 53 for the last wicket and lift Andover to 201-9 – a total worth four batting points.
With OTs missing out on maximum batting points by making 201-6, Andover needed only one more points to clinch promotion.
They had to be patient as it wasn’t until Hook openers Tom May (38) and Dan Moore (36) were back in the pavilion at 86-2 before that extra bowling point was achieved.
Andover were on a probable loser – a fact confirmed by Matt Buckingham (59 not out) and Rupes Armstrong (28 not out) – but it was largely academic as they were up and back in Division 1 from which they were relegated in 2021.
Going down
Neither Bashley (Rydal) seconds nor Fawley were unable to hold on to Southern Premier Division 2 status despite producing fine performances in their final matches.
Bashley won by 89 runs at St Cross Symondians II and Fawley posted a losing 257-8 against Hartley Wintney – but with relegation rivals Hook & Newnham Basics II pulling off a shock win at promoted Andover, the New Forest pair both went down.
Ben Francis (53) and Phil Morris (53) hit half-centuries alongside teenage left-hander Finn Gordon (32) and James McMurray (29) to ease Bashley to 232-7 at the Green Jackets, where St Cross tumbled to 143 all out (Michael Booth 55), Dan Goodey taking 3-22.
Sufian Munir blasted a quick fire 64 and with Raminder Singh hitting 54, Fawley left Hartley Wintney 257-8 to chase at Holbury.
Hugo Hammond almost did it on his own, cracking a whirlwind 143 not out off 102 balls, hitting five sixes and 19 fours.
James Mulvey hit three maximums in his 40 as Hartley won by seven wickets with 11 overs to spare.
But for tenth-wicket pair Matt Hooper and Mike Adams, Andover might not have got the six bonus points they needed from their final match against relegation threatened Hook & Newnham Basics II to ensure finishing above Old Tauntonians & Romsey.
All appeared well in the London Road camp when Harry Blackburn (40) and Charlie Ayers (21) guided Andover to 105-3, but Hook spin pair Aniket Divecha (3-23) and Will Gardner put an entirely different complexion on proceedings by reducing the Lions to 148-9, six wickets falling for 43 runs.
Andover had only one batting point in the bank at that point and with OTs known to be in a winning position against Fair Oak, it was time to some experience heads.
Promotion
Cue Hooper (41 not out) and Adams (22 not out) to add a precious 53 for the last wicket and lift Andover to 201-9 – a total worth four batting points.
With OTs missing out on maximum batting points by making 201-6, Andover needed only one more points to clinch promotion.
They had to be patient as it wasn’t until Hook openers Tom May (38) and Dan Moore (36) were back in the pavilion at 86-2 before that extra bowling point was achieved.
Andover were on a probable loser – a fact confirmed by Matt Buckingham (59 not out) and Rupes Armstrong (28 not out) – but it was largely academic as they were up and back in Division 1 from which they were relegated in 2021.
Going down
Neither Bashley (Rydal) seconds nor Fawley were unable to hold on to Southern Premier Division 2 status despite producing fine performances in their final matches.
Bashley won by 89 runs at St Cross Symondians II and Fawley posted a losing 257-8 against Hartley Wintney – but with relegation rivals Hook & Newnham Basics II pulling off a shock win at promoted Andover, the New Forest pair both went down.
Ben Francis (53) and Phil Morris (53) hit half-centuries alongside teenage left-hander Finn Gordon (32) and James McMurray (29) to ease Bashley to 232-7 at the Green Jackets, where St Cross tumbled to 143 all out (Michael Booth 55), Dan Goodey taking 3-22.
Sufian Munir blasted a quick fire 64 and with Raminder Singh hitting 54, Fawley left Hartley Wintney 257-8 to chase at Holbury.
Hugo Hammond almost did it on his own, cracking a whirlwind 143 not out off 102 balls, hitting five sixes and 19 fours.
James Mulvey hit three maximums in his 40 as Hartley won by seven wickets with 11 overs to spare.