Andover II v Petersfield.

Andover II started their league campaign off with a five wicket loss to Petersfield last weekend. Captain Martin Roberts won the toss and elected to bat first, however the home side could post only 178-7 from their 45 overs with Ed Duckworth (52) top scoring. Petersfield chased down the target with seven overs to spare.

Andover lost the early wicket of opener Harry Blackburn with the score on ten but Duckworth and Sean Purchase (29) looked good as they built a solid partnership of 63 before Purchase was trapped lbw by Cox. The wicket of Duckworth with the score on 95 sparked a middle order collapse which left Andover 107-6 before Alex Thompson (23) and Robbie Taylor (25no) put on 52 for the seventh wicket giving the town side a fighting chance.

Petersfield didn’t get off to the best of starts with some excellent bowling from Duckworth and Phil Greening (3-43) putting Andover in control early on and found themselves 65-5 soon after drinks. The game looked to be heading Andover’s way when Barnes (79no) came in and chanced his arm hitting six mammoth sixes taking the game away from Andover very quickly. Barnes and Carson put on a match winning stand of 123 to achieve victory for the visitors.

Andover travel to Michelmersh and Timsbury determined to put this loss behind them and get back to winning ways.