Andover first XI move to the top of the table with fantastic win – Andover Advertiser

Andover Cricket Club, sponsored by Nordlock, completed another clean sweep from their three games on Saturday with the town’s first XI moving to the top of the table.
Andover’s first XI claimed a commanding six-wicket victory over New Milton in a game impacted by rain at London Road.
Winning the toss and opting to field, Andover put New Milton into bat under the humid but overcast Hampshire skies.
This decision proved to be a sensible one as New Milton slipped to 16-3 from ten overs, but unfortunately play was delayed for over an hour with persistent rain.
After an early tea, New Milton resumed their innings, reaching 50 runs from 25.5 overs.
However, the heart of their batting collapsed thereafter.
Their top scorer, Ed Bartlett, provided resistance — a measured 50 off 64 balls, embellished with four boundaries and two sixes.
Andover’s bowling unit performed impressively with the wickets shared around, backed up by a good fielding display.
Chasing a revised target of 91 in 22 overs, due to the rain delay, Andover raced out of the blocks.
They reached 50 in just 8.3 overs — a blistering start that effectively killed the contest early.
Nyasha Mayavo played a key role with 34* off 22 balls, including five fours and a six, while Max Souter chipped in with 22* off 19 balls.
Both steered the chase with assertive intent, ensuring Andover crossed the line in 14.1 overs with six wickets in hand.
The victory garnered Andover 22 points and took Andover to the top spot in the table.
The team they replaced, Langley Manor, are the opposition Saturday and a win will move Andover even closer to the title.
Andover second XI secured a comfortable six-wicket victory against Oakley first XI.
Opting to field after winning the toss, Andover restrained Oakley to 152 all out in 42.3 overs.
A disciplined bowling performance from Andover ensured that Oakley’s innings never got going.
Ashwin Vasudevan (28-4) and Callum Eke (24-3) were the pick of the Andover bowlers but all contributed to a good all-round performance.
Chasing 153, Andover were clinical and their innings was held together by young star James Bird (60*).
Andover went past the Oakley score in just 30 overs and whilst Bird was the glue, Vasudevan (37) completed a good all-round performance hitting two sixes in his short stay.
Andover bagged the maximum 24 points which saw them move up to fifth in the table.
They welcome bottom of the table Alton 3rd XI to London Road this Saturday (12:30 start, visitors welcome) in the hope of pushing themselves further up the table.
Andover third XI were inspired to victory by a sensational century from Richard Taylor in their 21-run victory over Overton second XI.
Andover’s innings of 201 revolved almost entirely around Taylor’s outstanding 110 off 76 balls, which featured 12 fours and six sixes.
Taylor moved into the top five batsmen in the league with 337 runs for the season so far.
Andover slumped to 60-5 but it was Taylor, with wickets tumbling around him, that gave Andover a chance of victory.
In reply, Overton never found fluency and it was birthday boy Ethan Leybourne who starred with the ball, claiming 4 for 43.
Taylor continued his all-round heroics with a tight spell of 1 for 8 from five overs and it was left to Vinay Malhotra (3-30) to wrap up the tail as Overton collapsed for 147 in 31.1 overs.
Andover earned a well-deserved win and this moves them to second place in the table.
The top three teams are separated by one point and with the top two being promoted it really is all to play for.
To make matters even more exciting Andover welcome third-placed Thruxton first XI to the second pitch at London Road this Saturday.
Andover fourth XI only managed a handful of overs in their game before the rain arrived and play was unable to resume.
Andover take the short journey to play Collingbourne second XI this Saturday hoping to close the gap on a team that sit two places above them in the table.
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