Hampshire all-rounder Ian Holland hit a century as South Wilts tightened their grip on the ECB British Gas Southern Premier League leadership race with a 72-run win over basement side Andover at London Road.
They take a 15-point lead at the top into Saturday’s visit of Alton to Wilton Road, 11am.
Holland (pictured by Roy Honeybone) scored 103 but, having featured in a 94-run third-wicket partnership with Tom Cowley (50), had to glue the South Wilts innings together as spin duo Glyn Treagus (3-29) and Matt Hooper (2-47) began to create inroads.
South Wilts lost three wickets for 22 runs at one stage and when Holland eventually fell at 205-8, Steve Warner (19) and Ryan Murray added vital late runs to hoist the visitors’ total to 237.
Murray’s three-wicket new-ball spell had Andover on the ropes at 44-4, after which Sri lankan all-rounder Chimaka Karunarakne fought a virtual lone battle.
Previously restricted to bowling only overs due to a leg injury, hit struck an unbeaten 61.
Jack Mynott and Luke Evans chipped away at the other end as Andover gradually subsided to 165 all out.
* South Wilts are worried that promising left-hand spin all-rounder Sam Arnold could miss the remainder of the season after suffering a knee injury in a leisure-time ‘kick about’ with his mates.
The Loughborough University student, who has made quite an impact at South Wilts since his return, was due to have a scan on his injured knee this week.
They take a 15-point lead at the top into Saturday’s visit of Alton to Wilton Road, 11am.
Holland (pictured by Roy Honeybone) scored 103 but, having featured in a 94-run third-wicket partnership with Tom Cowley (50), had to glue the South Wilts innings together as spin duo Glyn Treagus (3-29) and Matt Hooper (2-47) began to create inroads.
South Wilts lost three wickets for 22 runs at one stage and when Holland eventually fell at 205-8, Steve Warner (19) and Ryan Murray added vital late runs to hoist the visitors’ total to 237.
Murray’s three-wicket new-ball spell had Andover on the ropes at 44-4, after which Sri lankan all-rounder Chimaka Karunarakne fought a virtual lone battle.
Previously restricted to bowling only overs due to a leg injury, hit struck an unbeaten 61.
Jack Mynott and Luke Evans chipped away at the other end as Andover gradually subsided to 165 all out.
* South Wilts are worried that promising left-hand spin all-rounder Sam Arnold could miss the remainder of the season after suffering a knee injury in a leisure-time ‘kick about’ with his mates.
The Loughborough University student, who has made quite an impact at South Wilts since his return, was due to have a scan on his injured knee this week.
