HARTLEY Wintney eased their relegation concerns with a seven-wicket victory over visiting Andover on Saturday.

Andover scored quickly batting first, but their high run-rate came at a cost and they were bowled out for 272 with almost five overs of their innings remaining.

Hartley's reply got off to the perfect start, with Aaron Wivell and Jack Hersh putting together an opening stand of 204, Wivell making 116.

Hersh went on to reach 80 as Hartley won the match, getting over the line with 11 balls to spare.

The victory, Hartley's third of the season, saw the village side move up to seventh in the Southern League Division One table, seven points above the relegation zone at the halfway point of the season.

Hartley skipper Jamie Teale chose to put Andover into bat after winning the toss but the visitors made a good start, openers Ali Hooper (34) and Glyn Treagus (37) putting on 76 for the first wicket.

Three quick wickets, including that of the dangerous David Taylor, trapped leg before wicket by Chris Jolley for one, had Andover on the back foot at 82-3, but Darron Augustrus (25) and Craig Ross (54) got them back on track with a partnership of 76.

Both batsmen fell in quick succession, but a partnership of 88 for the seventh wicket between Max Souter (63) and Matt Knight (27) got the visitors over 250 and on for a big total.

However, Hartley hit back, with the last three wickets falling for six runs as Andover were bowled out for 272 with almost five overs of their innings remaining.

Brothers Jamie and Mark Teale were the top Hartley bowlers, taking three wickets each.

It looked a formidable total, but Hartley openers Wivell and Hersh swung the game decisively in the hosts' favour.

Australian Wivell hit 116 from 131 balls, an innings that included 13 fours and three sixes, before being stumped with the score on 204.

Hersh continued, making 80 from 124 balls before being the third man out with the score on 244.

Scott Baldwin (18) and Chris Jolley (17 from eight balls) got Hartley over the line for a seven-wicket success with an unbroken partnership of 32.

SCORECARD

Andover
A Hooper c M Kerr b Flanders 34
G Treagus c Baldwin b Wrenn 37
D Augustrus b M Teale 25
D Taylor lbw b Jolley 1
C Ross c J Kerr b M Teale 54
W Arnold b M Teale 0
M Souter c M Teale b J Teale 63
M Knight c Kerr b J Teale 27
E Duckworth b Jolley 2
M Hooper b J Teale 1
D Foy not out 2
Extras 26
Total (all out, 45.1 overs) 272

Fall: 1-76, 2-76, 3-82, 4-158, 5-158, 6-178, 7-266, 8-268, 9-270

Bowling: C Jolley 8-0-68-2, T Flanders 6-0-39-1, D Wrenn 4-0-30-1, S Baldwin 10-1-40-0, J Teale 7.1-1-25-3, M Teale 6-1-27-3, A Wivell 4-0-33-0

Hartley Wintney
A Wivell st Knight b Foy 116
J Hersh b Taylor 80
D Wrenn lbw b Hooper 13
S Baldwin not out 18
C Jolley not out 17
Total (for 3 wickets, 48.1 overs) 276

Fall: 1-204, 2-228, 3-244

Bowling: D Taylor 10-2-41-1, D Augustrus 9.1-0-39-0, M Hooper 10-0-59-1, E Duckworth 8-0-54-0, D Foy 10-0-58-1, G Treagus 1-0-7-0

RESULT: Hartley Wintney (22 points) beat Andover (6) by 7 wickets