Andover XI recorded a thumping 189-run victory last Saturday against Bashley to keep them in second place in the Southern Premier League Division Two.

Andover welcomed back young star batsman, Sam Ashman, and went into the game with only two recognised fast bowlers.

Andover skipper, Johnny Nyumbu, won the toss and elected to bat first on a good looking pitch on a hot day in the New Forest.

READ MORE: Andover to face Bountymen in Guy Jewell Cup final

This decision was immediately vindicated with opener, Glyn Treagus (68), hitting the first two balls for four and taking 12 from the first over.

Fellow opener, Ashman (127), took his time to get going but between him and Treagus, Andover raced to 60 without loss from the first ten overs.

Bashley took pace off the ball but the Andover batters continued to make hay.

Andover, sponsored by Nordlock, raced to 170 before they lost their first wicket with Treagus caught for an excellent 68 from 80 balls. As is often the way, Harry Blackburn (1) who had been sitting in his pads for a number of overs, fell quickly after.

Charlie Ayers also fell shortly after and Andover were 188-3 but nearly 20 overs to go, and Ashman still going strong, the town side knew a big total was on the cards.

Steve Williams (23) joined Ashman and this pair added another 50 in quick time before Williams bowled.

Ashman was now starting to hit the ball to all parts before he fell for 127 from 146 balls.

It was an incredible innings from the 15-year-old who played shots all around the wicket and punished anything slightly loose.

Ashman was out with the score on 259 but this brought together, arguably, Andovers two biggest hitters in Nathan Birks (25) and Babu Veettil (63).

It was here the fireworks began as the pair hit 5 sixes between them. They added 75 in under 5 overs until Birks was bowled for his 25 from just 11 balls.

Veettil was going even quicker scoring his 63 from an unbelievable 24 balls until he was run out trying to retain the strike with the score 341. It was left up to Matt Knight and Matt Hooper to finish the innings and Andover recorded a whopping 342 from their 50 overs for the loss of 7 wickets.

Andover opening bowlers, Richie Taylor (25-1) and Veettil (21-1), both started well as Bashley set off in pursuit of the massive total.

Bashley quickly fell for 17-1 with Taylor picking up the first wicket well caught by Blackburn in the covers. Bashley progressed nicely, if a bit slowly, to 50 before Andover picked up the second wicket.

Leg spinner, Charlie Ayers (41-3), continued his good form with a wicket caught by Veettil at mid-on.

After a moment of controversy regarding a disputed catch, Bashley continued at a steady pace past 100.

Nyumbu (35-3), the leading wicket-taker in the league despite missing the first three games, introduced himself but it was Ayers who struck again, with an excellent catch by Knight behind the stumps.

Nyumbu brought on Hooper (23-1) and he captured the wicket of Morris and Bashley were now in trouble at 106-4.

The game was all but over but Andover knew they had to prize out all the Bashley wickets to get a full points haul.

Ayers picked up his third wicket with the score on 117-5 and Andover were fast progressing to a resounding victory.

Nyumbu rotated his bowlers well in pursuit of the final wickets and the last four wickets fell for just 13 runs with Nyumbu taking three and Veettil collecting the other. Bashley were bowled out for 153, nearly 200 runs behind Andover’s total, and the town side collected full points.

Sam Ashman was later named Southern Premier League Cricketer of the Week for his career-best 127.

All the teams around Andover won which means the placings remain unchanged.

Andover welcome Waterlooville to London Road this Saturday (12:30pm start) with Andover having won their last six games. Looville currently sit in fourth and if Andover beat them it is likely that is one less challenger they have to worry about.

SEE ALSO: Andover strengthen their position at top of the table

Star seamer Michael Adams returns to the line-up to replace the resting Richie Taylor and Harry Blackburn also drops out.

Andover know that they have to continue winning as Romsey, a side Andover beat a few weeks previous, are waiting for them to slip up just five points behind Andover.

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