Andover 1st XI came home empty handed from their trip to New Milton after being in a strong position to record their second victory of the season.

Andover took the long trip down to New Milton on a warm and sunny day having not played over the previous fortnight due to the inclement weather.

Andover welcomed Brandon Smith and Hampshire star Lewis McManus into the side, whilst Nathan Birks took over the wicket keeping gloves.

Andover skipper, Matt Hooper, won the toss and elected to bat first on a good-looking pitch.

Unfortunately, with the score on just 16 Andover lost pinch-hitting opener Richie Taylor and this brought the in-form McManus to the crease.

Alongside Glyn Treagus Andover doubled their score before Treagus fell LBW. McManus was showing his class with crisp timing and expert placement.

Andrew Duckworth joined McManus but fell quickly after in the most unfortunate circumstances when a McManus drive was deflected onto the stumps and Duckworth was short of his ground at the non-striker’s end.

This left Andover 44 for 3 and brought Charlie Ayers into the action.

Ayers and McManus added another 25 runs before Ayers fell trying to break the shackles.

Birks was next to go without scoring and Smith joined McManus in trying to post a competitive total.

McManus was at this time hitting it to all parts and Smith played an excellent supporting role.

This pair added 26 to the total, Andover’s biggest partnership, before Smith fell.

Hooper joined McManus but he quickly lost the Hampshire star, bowled going for another big shot.

Hooper continued to score but quickly lost bowlers Babu Veettill and Rowan Duckworth. Last man Michael Adams fell and Andover had been bowled out for 145 in the 33rd over.

This score seemed way under par so the Andover bowlers knew they would have to bowl well to stand any chance of victory.

Opening bowlers Veettil and Adams did just that and Adams struck in the second over of the innings with the score on one.

In Adams’ second over a brilliant diving stop in the covers from Andrew Duckworth was picked up by Ayers who threw into Birks to complete a superb run out and New Milton were two wickets down without adding to their score.

Not to be outdone, Veettil then got in on the act bowling New Milton’s overseas player with the score on five for the loss of three wickets.

Veetill and Adams had their tails up and were bowling with brilliant skill and control.

Veettil added a second wicket and New Milton were 10 for 4 with 145 looking a long way off.

A tired Veettil was replaced by Rowan Duckworth who kept on the pressure and took his first wicket with the New Milton score on 23.

Taylor replaced Adams and the Andover bowlers continued to probe in the search of more wickets.

Unfortunately for Andover, the luck seemed to move into New Milton’s favour with balls dropping short of fielders or looping just out of reach.

New Milton recovered and their fifth wicket partnership added 57 to the total before Duckworth finally made the breakthrough, deservedly picking up his second wicket in the last of his eight overs.

With New Milton on 80 for the loss of six wickets the game could have gone either way.

Unfortunately for Andover New Milton’s lower order continued to bat sensibly and they took themselves within 24 runs of Andover’s total.

Hooper introduced himself and fellow spinner Ayers but neither could make the breakthrough.

Taylor returned and picked up the seventh wicket but also injured himself going for the eighth.

By this point New Milton knew that the sensible approach would take them to victory and Andover knew that wickets were key.

Unfortunately for Andover New Milton scraped over the line nine balls to spare and Andover lost a game that could have gone either way.

This leaves Andover in mid-table having lost two from their first three games.

Andover welcome Calmore to London Road this Saturday in the hope of making it two wins this season and start their march up the table.