Andover lose by five wickets to league leaders Lymington

The Lions got off to the worst possible start, after skipper Matt Hooper lost the toss and was invited to bat, losing Matt Knight and Dave Watson in quick succession.

The pair both fell to probing deliveries from the in-form Lymington opening bowlers.

Glyn Treagus (19) attempted to steady the Andover innings with a series of flowing boundaries, but was then trapped lbw, leaving Andover reeling at 30 for 3.

Sherwin Govender and overseas star Chamika Karunaratne set about rebuilding the innings.

The pair were resolute in defence and between them were able to see off the Lymington opening bowlers.

The duo then set about counter attacking against the Lymington first change attack.

Govender hit a series of flowing boundaries as Andover looked to wrestle back control of the innings.

Together the pair took the score up to 100 off 30 overs before Govender (35) was caught at mid wicket.

New man Max Souter joined Karunaratne and the pair took Andover to 120 for 4 at the lunch break.

After the lunch break Andover suffered a double setback losing Souter (2) and Karunaratne (57) in quick succession.

Hooper and Harry Blackburn set about rebuilding the innings.

The pair batted sensibly, displaying a range of shots to take the score up to 180, before Hooper (23) was caught at slip.

Blackburn (35) took the score past 200 before he was bowled by Metcalfe.

Some powerful lower order hitting from Veettil (26) and Adams (17) took the score up to 240, before the pair’s wickets were claimed to wrap-up Andover’s innings.

Andover needed to restrict Lymington’s openers, Lake and Rogers, early on to stay in with a chance of winning the game.

However the pair set a fast pace early on, smashing 80 off the first 10 overs.

Hooper changed the bowlers, introducing himself and Babu Veettil into the attack, and the duo stemmed the flow of runs, with Lymington on 100 off 15 overs at tea.

Andover needed to strike early after the tea break and skipper Hooper duly delivered, bowling Rogers for 63 with a turning delivery.

Danny Foy then removed opener Lake thanks to an exceptional outfield catch from Karunaratne.

Karunaratne sprinted 10 yards to his left and pulled off a full stretch dive to take one of the finest catches ever seen at London Road.

With Lymington at 120 for 2, Andover were back in the game.

Dorset stars Ryan Scott and Ed Ellis steadied the ship for Lymington and the pair took the score 170.

Hooper introduced Karunaratne back into the attack and he produced a fiery spell.

He first removed Ellis for 22 and then produced an extremely quick bouncer which new batsmen Hand could only fend off to the slips.

Babu Veettil also struck to leave Lymington requiring 40 more runs with five wickets remaining to leave the game finally poised.

However, Dorset star Scott (75*) batted sensibly as Lymington chased down the remaining 40 runs.

Andover face Alton on Saturday.