Penton v Andover V.

Andover V won a thrilling encounter in Regional 3 NW by one run in the last over.

Penton put Andover into bat and after 21 overs they were 75-3, but opener Richard Channon and Alex Aldridge then raised the pace and reached a magnificent partnership of 172 when Channon was bowled by Steve Patrick for 60. Alex continued on to score 128, peppering the boundary with 20 fours and three sixes to record the highest score of his career to date before he was also bowled by Patrick as Andover V made 249-6, their highest score of the season so far, with Barry Kavanagh taking -25 off ten overs.

With a run rate of more than six an over required, the Penton batsmen knew their only chance was to hit out on the dry Charlton pitch. Openers Martin Patrick (45) and Mark Hodgson (17) reached 37 in the seventh over before Mark was caught by Ben Cox. Steve Patrick (80) then joined his father and they reached 118 off the 18th over when Martin was bowled by Zahid. Tom Cavanagh (22) then joined Steve and their 59 partnership brought the score up to 186 off the 27th over when Steve was caught by Cox.

Wickets started to fall as Penton were forced to chase the game, with Robbie Taylor (4-40) the main beneficiary but Mark Kenyon (37) kept up the momentum when the eighth wicket fell at 246 at the end of the 41st over. With emotions getting high in the last over, Phil Cox (4-28) took the wickets of Barry Kavanagh (11) and Nick Chilton to end Penton's total at 248, agonisingly one run short of victory.