IN an intense clash between Andover and Sarisbury, which saw relentless rain and gusts of up to 40mph, Andover emerged triumphant in a high-stakes match.

Sarisbury were put in to bat first and struggled early on, finding themselves at 40-3 due to an exceptional bowling spell by Aidan Jansen.

However, they managed to recover, gradually building their innings to a respectable total.

Their hopes were pinned on Tom Morton, who played an impressive knock of 108 before falling victim to Babu Veettil's well-directed short-pitched deliveries.

With a solid platform established, Sarisbury unleashed some powerful hitting, ultimately finishing their innings at 292-5, setting Andover a formidable target.

As the chase began, Andover's opening duo, Kellum Watta and Glyn Treagus, displayed excellent resilience, ensuring that they remained unscathed in the initial 10 overs.

The crowd witnessed some exceptional shots from Watta, who contributed 24 runs before being caught behind.

This brought the young Hampshire sensation, Ollie Williams, to the crease. Williams exhibited his batting prowess, crafting a solid innings of 46 runs, narrowly missing out on reaching his half-century.

Treagus continued his outstanding form this season, adding a valuable 44 runs to Andover's total.

The highlight of the match, however, came from the experienced Zimbabwean cricketer, Richmond Mutambami.

With an exceptional display of skill and class, Mutambami blazed his way to 99 runs off just 68 balls, including three sixes.

Unfortunately, he fell agonisingly short of achieving his third century of the season.

Josh Williams showcased maturity at the crease, intelligently taking on the bowlers and capitalizing on scoring opportunities while maintaining swift running between the wickets.

Due to rain interruptions, Andover's target was revised to 281 runs for victory.

Sensing the urgency, Babu Veettil, who was promoted up the batting order, left no doubt about the result.

He unleashed his aggressive style, smashing 23 runs off a eight balls, showcasing the true essence of 'Babsball'. 

The game went down to the wire, with Andover needing two runs off the last over.

Veettil cleared the car park with a mighty shot, sending the ball soaring over the boundary, forcing neighboring residents to seek cover.