Tom Nightingale pictured (by Bob Selly) in action for Sarisbury Athletic
Sarisbury Athletic secured fourth place in Southern Premier League Division One with a three-wicket win over Andover at London Road – the victory clinched with five balls to spare.
An overnight deluge left the Andover ground-staff with a mammoth task of getting the usually rock-hard London Road track ready for 100 overs of cricket. Despite their best efforts, water had leaked onto the playing surface, making it a crucial toss to win as the ground dried out in the blustery conditions. Sarisbury won it.
Andover openers Ali Hooper (14) and Glyn Treagus toiled in the conditions but with both back in the pavilion after five overs, it was clear that it would be a day for application with the bat.
In form duo, Matt Knight (49) and Lewis McManus (69), rebuilt the innings with a 90 run partnership, taking the total to 116 after 35 overs, with Knight falling agonisingly one run short of a deserved half-century.
Hampshire’s McManus once again showed his class at the crease with a composed fifty, picking off bad balls when they came along, including one huge six into the car park.
Charlie Ayers (16) looked to kick the innings up a gear with some lusty shots, but was unlucky to be run-out to a superb piece of fielding from Ricky Rawlins.
However, this laid the platform for Nathan Birks, celebrating his 19th birthday, to flay the Sarisbury attack in an enterprising 37 not out, including 2 maximums.
Patient knock
In the quest for quick runs, wickets fell in the final overs, leaving Andover on a competitive 214-8, Jordan Wright returning 3-36 for the visitors.
The Sarisbury run-chase started in explosive fashion with Rawlins (41) and Sam Floyd (31) punishing the new ball, racing to 50 off the first ten overs.
Matt Hooper had no choice but to rotate his bowlers and this was rewarded with great effect when Richard Taylor clean bowled Rawlins and Jordan Wright in consecutive deliveries, then found the edge of Floyd's bat to Treagus at slip, to swing the game back in Andover's favour.
Talented Channel Islander Tom Nightingale (66) then played an unusually patient knock that was to eventually win Sarisbury the game, but not without moments of panic from the visitors.
Josh Hill (43) combined with Guernsey to put on 110 for the fourth wicket and got their side within touching distance of victory. Andover were to rue dropped catches and missed opportunities as the visitors put pressure on the home side.
Two more wickets for Taylor (5-37), giving him his first five wicket haul of the season, and two for the returning Mike Adams saw the chase go down to the final over.
With two new faces at the crease and four needed to win, batsman Will Bolton held his nerve to hit the winning runs for Sarisbury with three wickets intact and five balls to spare.
An overnight deluge left the Andover ground-staff with a mammoth task of getting the usually rock-hard London Road track ready for 100 overs of cricket. Despite their best efforts, water had leaked onto the playing surface, making it a crucial toss to win as the ground dried out in the blustery conditions. Sarisbury won it.
Andover openers Ali Hooper (14) and Glyn Treagus toiled in the conditions but with both back in the pavilion after five overs, it was clear that it would be a day for application with the bat.
In form duo, Matt Knight (49) and Lewis McManus (69), rebuilt the innings with a 90 run partnership, taking the total to 116 after 35 overs, with Knight falling agonisingly one run short of a deserved half-century.
Hampshire’s McManus once again showed his class at the crease with a composed fifty, picking off bad balls when they came along, including one huge six into the car park.
Charlie Ayers (16) looked to kick the innings up a gear with some lusty shots, but was unlucky to be run-out to a superb piece of fielding from Ricky Rawlins.
However, this laid the platform for Nathan Birks, celebrating his 19th birthday, to flay the Sarisbury attack in an enterprising 37 not out, including 2 maximums.
Patient knock
In the quest for quick runs, wickets fell in the final overs, leaving Andover on a competitive 214-8, Jordan Wright returning 3-36 for the visitors.
The Sarisbury run-chase started in explosive fashion with Rawlins (41) and Sam Floyd (31) punishing the new ball, racing to 50 off the first ten overs.
Matt Hooper had no choice but to rotate his bowlers and this was rewarded with great effect when Richard Taylor clean bowled Rawlins and Jordan Wright in consecutive deliveries, then found the edge of Floyd's bat to Treagus at slip, to swing the game back in Andover's favour.
Talented Channel Islander Tom Nightingale (66) then played an unusually patient knock that was to eventually win Sarisbury the game, but not without moments of panic from the visitors.
Josh Hill (43) combined with Guernsey to put on 110 for the fourth wicket and got their side within touching distance of victory. Andover were to rue dropped catches and missed opportunities as the visitors put pressure on the home side.
Two more wickets for Taylor (5-37), giving him his first five wicket haul of the season, and two for the returning Mike Adams saw the chase go down to the final over.
With two new faces at the crease and four needed to win, batsman Will Bolton held his nerve to hit the winning runs for Sarisbury with three wickets intact and five balls to spare.
