ANDOVER welcomed high flying Bournemouth to London Road for their Southern Premier League fixture last Saturday.

The Nordlock sponsored side lost to Bournemouth on the first day of the season earlier in the year as they move into the second half of the season.

Andover knew a win would keep their slim promotion chances alive.

Bournemouth won the toss in front of a big crowd and elected to bat first on a hot day and a good looking pitch. Andover opening bowlers Mike Adams and Asher Hart keep it tight whilst creating a few early half chances. It was Adams that made the first breakthrough cleaning bowling the Bournemouth opener.

In the heat, skipper Matt Hooper, rotated the bowlers and Luke Graham and Aidan Janson replaced the opening pair. Both didn’t go for many runs but neither could grab the second wicket.

Hooper then brought spinner Charlie Ayers and himself into the attack.

Again both bowled economically and it was Hooper that got the next breakthrough.

The Bournemouth score was creeping along and with wickets in hand their middle order batsman could come out and attack.

Hooper (4-49) grabbed three more wickets whilst the Bournemouth batsman struck some lusty blows.

Adams was reintroduced into the attack and he also picked up a second wicket late on the innings. Bournemouth ended their fifty overs with 207-7 and both teams were relatively happy at the break.

Andover, without the dangerous Ali Hooper due to injury, set about chasing down the Bournemouth total. Unfortunately, Andover lost Hampshire star Asher Hart early being trapped leg before without troubling the scorers. Glyn Treagus (26) joined Andy Duckworth (35) and the pair started to rebuild the innings.

Bournemouth opened the bowling with a spinner and scoring was difficult. Bournemouth introduced three other spinners to their attack and it was Treagus who fell next.

Andover’s decent start fell apart as Duckworth, Ayers and Robin Liney all fell within quick succession.

Matt Hooper was joined by Will Arnold and this pair tried to get Andover back into the game.

They added 40 to the Andover total before Hooper fell leg before.

Mike Adams quickly followed Hooper back to the pavilion.

Graham and Arnold were realistically Andover’s last hope but Arnold was then bowled. Bournemouth wrapped up the Andover innings with Andover being bowled out for a disappointing 146.

This Saturday, Andover travel to Calmore, another side above them in the league, this Saturday hoping to keep their stuttering season on track.

A defeat could see Andover drop towards the relegation zone whereas a win would keep them within reach of the top of the table.

Last Sunday, they were also at Calmore in a T20 Plate contest.

The home side won the toss and elected to bat and Adams (3-36) removed Darren Vann, Michael Cook (39) and James Manning (31) moved the score to 83, before Manning was the first of three victims for Olly Cox.

Andover then looked on top, but Mike West (13) and Callum Stanton (11) scored some late runs to take their total to 131-8 from their 20 overs.

The visitors lost early wickets, before Max Souter (30) and Cox (48 not out) looked to have got them back on track, but Souter's departure saw wickets fall again and in the end they came up short finishing on 117-8.