Matt Hooper spun Andover to a dramatic one-run win over Calmore Sports – just as the Southern Premier League Division 1 strugglers looked to set to pull off a desperately needed victory at Loperwood Park.
Hooper, pictured, stepped in with a four-wicket haul when Andover, defending 159, had looked set for defeat – Calmore being on the brink of victory with only 12 runs required and five wickets remaining.
But the dismissal of Mark Lavelle (38), who was gradually ushering Calmore home, triggered an amazing collapse from 148-5 to 158 all out, Hooper (4-39) spinning out the last four batsmen to give Andover the narrowest of victories.
Andover, invited to bat on an uneven surface, suffered the early setback of losing Glyn Treagus and Nathan Birks within the first six overs of the game.
Teenager Alex Ayers (32) underlined his potential, but otherwise Andover’s top order struggled to find any fluency against left-armer Steve Wright (2-16), Yannick De Mezieres Lepervanche (3-48) and Mark Lavelle (1-21), who reduced the visitors to 85-7.
Hopes were fading of posting a competitive total, until Babu Veettil (22) and Richard Taylor (38) launched a stunning counterattack to take Andover to 159 all out.
Calmore started solidly, reaching 30 without loss from the first 10 overs, but change pair Glyn Treagus (1-24) and Aidan Jansen (1-13) removed the dangerous Ben Johns (13) and Michael Cook (21*), leaving Calmore 60-2 at the halfway mark.
Spinner Charlie Ayers struck a crucial double blow removing former South Wilts skipper ames Hibberd (20), on his Calmore debut, and Matt Taylor (13) to leave the game finely poised at 80-4with 20 overs left.
Calmore rebuilt through James Manning (20) and Lavelle (38), whose 45-run partnership put Calmore firmly in the ascendency.
Andover needed something special to make the breakthrough and Nathan Birks duly delivered. After a mix up between Lavelle and Manning, Birks threw down the stumps while on his knees from 40 yards away to run out Manning.
Lavelle single handily took Calmore to within 10 runs of the Andover total, but Birks took a spectacular catch over his shoulder to remove the skipper.
Calmore were still firm favourites and required 10 runs to win off three overs with four wickets remaining.
Cue Matt Hooper, who struck twice to remove Darren Vann and Steve Wright for ducks.
Mike West (12*) took six off the next Babu Veettil over, leaving Calmore 4 runs to win from the last two overs. But the Lions skipper remained icy cool and bowled both Liam Carty and Yannick De Mezieres Lepervanche to give Andover a famous victory. Calmore were all out for 158.
Hooper, pictured, stepped in with a four-wicket haul when Andover, defending 159, had looked set for defeat – Calmore being on the brink of victory with only 12 runs required and five wickets remaining.
But the dismissal of Mark Lavelle (38), who was gradually ushering Calmore home, triggered an amazing collapse from 148-5 to 158 all out, Hooper (4-39) spinning out the last four batsmen to give Andover the narrowest of victories.
Andover, invited to bat on an uneven surface, suffered the early setback of losing Glyn Treagus and Nathan Birks within the first six overs of the game.
Teenager Alex Ayers (32) underlined his potential, but otherwise Andover’s top order struggled to find any fluency against left-armer Steve Wright (2-16), Yannick De Mezieres Lepervanche (3-48) and Mark Lavelle (1-21), who reduced the visitors to 85-7.
Hopes were fading of posting a competitive total, until Babu Veettil (22) and Richard Taylor (38) launched a stunning counterattack to take Andover to 159 all out.
Calmore started solidly, reaching 30 without loss from the first 10 overs, but change pair Glyn Treagus (1-24) and Aidan Jansen (1-13) removed the dangerous Ben Johns (13) and Michael Cook (21*), leaving Calmore 60-2 at the halfway mark.
Spinner Charlie Ayers struck a crucial double blow removing former South Wilts skipper ames Hibberd (20), on his Calmore debut, and Matt Taylor (13) to leave the game finely poised at 80-4with 20 overs left.
Calmore rebuilt through James Manning (20) and Lavelle (38), whose 45-run partnership put Calmore firmly in the ascendency.
Andover needed something special to make the breakthrough and Nathan Birks duly delivered. After a mix up between Lavelle and Manning, Birks threw down the stumps while on his knees from 40 yards away to run out Manning.
Lavelle single handily took Calmore to within 10 runs of the Andover total, but Birks took a spectacular catch over his shoulder to remove the skipper.
Calmore were still firm favourites and required 10 runs to win off three overs with four wickets remaining.
Cue Matt Hooper, who struck twice to remove Darren Vann and Steve Wright for ducks.
Mike West (12*) took six off the next Babu Veettil over, leaving Calmore 4 runs to win from the last two overs. But the Lions skipper remained icy cool and bowled both Liam Carty and Yannick De Mezieres Lepervanche to give Andover a famous victory. Calmore were all out for 158.
