Andover Cricket Club First XI, sponsored by Nordolock, recorded a second victory in a row and climbed out of the relegation places in their fight for Southern Premier League division one survival.

Basingstoke & North Hants are believed to have disciplined seven players – one understood to have been suspended for five matches and so side-lined into next season – following their controversial Southern Premier League Division 1 visit to Rowledge on August 14.

The May’s Bounty club has yet to name the players disciplined or confirm any details of the internal action taken, but of the side that won by 17 runs at Rowledge, only three of the same team – Matt Deadman, Ash Neal (who was captain) and youngster Shantanu Shahane - played on Saturday against Andover.

Piling on 256-7 off their 40 overs, they bowled out Basingstoke, who started the day in third place, for just 72.

Andover skipper, Matt Hooper, lost yet another toss and his side were asked to bat first at the beautiful Mays Bounty cricket ground.

Andover promoted ex-Hampshire player Glyn Treagus to open the batting with young star Sam Ashman. The Basingstoke opening bolwers bowled well at the start and Treagus and Ashman struggled to break the shackles.

That was until Treagus crashed a couple of trademark pull shots and the scoreboard started ticking. In the 14th over Andover brought up the 50 partnership and the town side were now motoring.

Treagus brought up yet another Southern League fifty in 58 balls and Andover cruised past 100 in the 20th over.

With the score on 121 Treagus fell for a brilliant 73 and this brought Hampshire player Lewis McManus to the crease.

McManus added another five runs before he was bowled by the young Basingstoke spinner. Andover promoted big-hitter Babu Veettil up the order to hit more quick runs and he didnt disappoint.

It was another 50 parternship for Andover with Veettil contributing 46 of them in just 18 balls, smashing three sixes and six fours. Andover knew that a big score was on offer and all the next batsman went out with one thing in mind, quick runs.

Matt Knight and Charlie Ayers both fell but both managed a six each as the Basingstoke boundary was being peppered.

Ashman was next to fall for yet another superb innings and he propelled himself to the top run scorer for the team. it is hard to remember that Ashman is still only 14 years old due the maturity and skill that he plays with and he seems to get better week on week. Will Carr, Nathan Birks and Hooper all hit out towards the end of the innings and Andover ended on a whopping 256 for 7 from their 40 overs.

The Mays Bounty cricket ground, a former Hampshire outground, is known for being a great pitch to bat on so Andover knew they would have to bowl well.

Regular opening bowlers Michael Adams and Veetill started well not allowing the Basingstoke batters any scoring opportunities. Basingstoke progressed to eight but then in fifth over everything went wrong.

Adams picked up three wickets in the over, two well caught by Will Carr and Andover were well on top.

With dark clouds around and some rain in the forecast, skipper Hooper, brought on spin to speed through to the 20 over minimum to have a result from the match. Ayers and Hooper then proceeded to not only speed the game up but they also raced Andover to victory, taking the next five wickets in quick succession.

Ayers got the important wicket of the Basingstoke opener and Hooper picked up the next four from the other end.

Basinsgtoke had slipped to 70-9 and Carr replaced Ayers once the leg-spinner had finished his eight overs and taken the Basingstoke innings past 20 overs.

Carr, who got 2 wickets in his last game against Portsmouth a few weeks previous, then proceeded to wrap up the innings with his very first ball, landing a long awaited hat-trick to cap a brilliant day for Andover.

Andover picked up maximum points and moved one place out of the relegation places.

Sarisbury, the team directly above them at the start of the day, also won which meant seventh placed Portsmouth fell into the relegation places after losing five games on the bounce.

Andover know survival is within their hands. If they win in their final game of the season against St Cross at London Road on Saturday they are safe.

St Cross were mathmatically relegated on Saturday and Portsmouth play Sarisbury with the bottom four teams playing each other. If Andover lose then they could still be safe depending on how many bonus points both they, and the loser in the Portsmouth-Sarisbury match, obtain.

For this reason Andover know that only a victory will do and finish their league seaon with three victories in a row.