Andover III v IBM Hursley.

ANDOVER III began their league campaign with a 76 run defeat at home to IBM Hursley.

Andy McMahon (3-24) and Dan Turner (2-26) were the pick of the bowlers for Andover but Hursley were able to set the hosts 170 to win.

In reply Andover stuttered from the off on a quickly deteriorating pitch with only Andy Sale (27) able to look at home as wickets fell regularly to see Andover all out for 93.

Earlier the opening pairing of Ryan Ward and Turner had pegged Hursley back from the off with Ward striking with the first ball of the game.

Runs were hard to come by but a third wicket partnership rescued the innings for Hursley before a sublime diving catch from the acrobatic Ward at point brought Andover back into the contest.

The middle order crumbled but some lower order hitting and tired legs in the field saw Hursley cash in during the final overs.

A dusty and cracking pitch began to crumble and Hursley used this well to their advantage and never allowed Andover to get away. Boundaries were few and far between and momentum was hard to create and the innings stuttered to a tame end.