HOOK and Newnham Basics kept themselves right on the tails of leaders Sarisbury Athletic, after an excellent 69 run success over visiting third placed Andover.

Hook skipper Matt Love won the toss and elected to bat and the home side found the visiting attack very mean in the first 10 overs, as they only reached 28-1 Ben Thane was the first man out caught by Matt Knight, which gave Mike Adams the first of his four wickets.

Kieran Thomson (20) and Harry Came (60 from 86 balls, which saw six fours and a six) increased the run rate, with 50 added in the next 10 overs.

However, the visiting bowlers hit back with Matt Hooper (1-31) removing Thomson and then Love (11) was dismissed by Glen Treagus (1-24) leaving Hook on 84-3.

Came and Hobday (56 from 59 balls which included four sixes) then built the foundation of the innings with a fourth wicket stand worth 82.

The return of Andover's opening bowlers Veettil and Adams with 10 overs left, stopped the innings in its tracks, as Hook slumped from 166-4 to 180-8.

Veettil (2-32) bowled both Came and Hobday, while Adams (4-31) snapped up the Willcock brothers Nick and Richard, as well as Shane Brewer.

Matt Buckingham with 26 from 22 balls got the Hook score past 200.

James O'Gorman (2-32) then took the final two wickets of the innings, as the home side were all out for 213 after 49.4 overs.

Andover's reply got off to the worst possible start, as opener Ali Hooper (2) was caught at slip by Thane, off a ball from Hobday (2-19) with just six runs on the board.

The same combination struck again two overs later, as this time Glyn Treagus (1) was sent back to the pavilion.

Opener Storm Green and James O'Gorman (19) then looked to have got the visitors back on track, but they were parted by a brilliant run out by Love with the score on 59 in the 20th over.

By the halfway point of their 50 overs, Andover had reached 75-4 with Green having scored just under half of their runs unbeaten on 34.

The fourth man out being Josh Ballantine-Dykes (10) trapped leg before by Kieran Thomson (1-22).

Soon after the drinks break, Hook really took control of the game, as Martin Roberts was caught at second slip by Richard Willcock which gave Anik Divecha (1-16) a deserved wicket.

Then fellow spin bowler Kevin Poulter (4-30) struck as opener Green (36) was caught behind by a smart catch from Matt Buckingham to leave the visitors on 78-6.

Knight (10) and Matt Hooper (8) moved the score into three figures, but Poulter trapped Hooper leg before and Knight departed soon after, thanks to a Came catch which gave Brewer a wicket Adams (12) was then stumped by Buckingham, before tenth man Veettil bludgeoned 30 from 21 balls thanks to two straight sixes in one Brewer over.

He then skied a ball from Poulter into the safe hands of Willcock as Andover were all out for 144.

After the game Love said: “We were a little disappointed with our score of 213, but it was not the traditional Hook deck, so it felt more like 270.”

“They are a good batting team, but at the moment we are bowling and fielding really well.

“Kieran (Thomson) was unplayable, Anik (Divecha) was superb and KP (Kevin Poulter) is bowling really well, so as a captain it gives me many options.”

Hook will continue their quest for the title with a tough trip to Bournemouth next weekend.