3:32pm Tuesday 23rd June 2009
ANDOVER put Saturday’s disappointment behind them on Sunday, as they easily progressed through to the second round of the league’s Twenty20 competition at the expense of Division Two side Rowledge.
In front of a large crowd, captain Matt Hooper won the toss and elected to field and his decision looked a good one, given the conditions, but the visitor’s openers soon made a mockery of such thinking as they hit 30 in the first three overs.
However, the Andover spinners turned the game on its head by restricting the batsman to singles and wickets began to fall. There were wickets for Hooper, Chris Hadfield and Luke Graham, who were all well supported by some excellent fielding, as the Rowledge innings ended on 125 from their 20 overs.
Despite losing Mark Miller second ball, Andover chased the total well from the start.
Ali Hooper and Australian Michael Stretton punished the bowlers and, after Hooper departed after hitting a monstrous six, Cillie Van der Merwe continued to take the game away from Rowledge. He was dismissed going for another huge shot but this only brought the in-form Mark Copleston to the crease and he bludgeoned 26 in quick time. Copleston was out just before Andover got to their target and it was left to Stretton to notch up a classy fifty and see the town side home with four overs remaining.
On Sunday Andover travel to Hook for the second round.
More reports and pictures from ACC in Friday's Advertiser
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