IT WAS the rain that defeated Andover first XI on Saturday, as they lost to high flying Sarisbury by five runs via the Duckworth Lewis method.

Andover remain second to bottom but took heart in testing two off the league leaders over the past couple of weeks.

Andover welcomed back Nathan Birks from university into the line up in the hope he can boost the middle order runs. The town skipper, Johnny Nyumbu, lost the toss and Andover were asked to bat first on a very good looking pitch at London Road.

With rain in forecast the odds are heavily favoured towards the side batting second as they can control the match, deciding whether they need to attack or defend to ensure they are head of the required rate or not. Also, the total is often dramatically reduced but they naturally keep the wickets in hand to play with. However, the Andover batters had first go on a very flat pitch at London Road.

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Matt Hooper sweeps another boundary (Image: Andover Cricket Club) Alex Corbett (41) joined Glyn Treagus (20) at the top of the order and both started well against disciplined bowling. Corbett in particular drove strongly through the off side while Treagus put away any bad balls. This pair took Andover past 50 before Treagus was bowled and Andover slipped to 70-2 with Ollie Banks-Williams (7) unable to get himself in.

The in-form Sanjeet Garood (41) joined Corbett and again Andover started to progress to a good total. Just as the partnership was looking settled Corbett fell before reaching his 50 and Andover were 90-3.

Similarly to last week just as Andover were getting the momentum they allowed the opposition to wrestle it back off them.

Andover then were unable to get themselves on top and slipped to 140-6 with Harri Williams (3) and Birks (4). Garood then went and Andover were looking like they were going to be bowled out cheaply.

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However, this Andover side is different to earlier in the season and Matt Hooper (39*) and Babu Veettil set out getting the Andover innings moving again. Hooper in particular carried on his good form, sweeping the Sarisbury spinners well and Veettil was his belligerent self. Veettil rushed to 18 and this experienced pair took Andover to 180 before Veettil was caught in deep.

Andover crept past 200 but lost two more wickets with Nyumbu (4) and Jansen (5) both well caught. Unfortunately final pair Michael Adams (0) were unable to put any more runs on the board and Andover were bowled out for 205 with 4 overs left.

When Andover last played Sarisbury their opening batsman Morton scored 150 not out so Andover knew they had to get him early.

Things start ominously when Morton crashed the second ball of the innings for six and Andover knew they were in a battle. Veettil (37-0) and Jansen (25-1) toiled hard but they couldn’t get the breakthrough.

Nyumbu turned to paceman Banks-Williams (29-3) and he immediately trapped Morton in front for LBW and Sarisbury 39-1.

Andover started to get on top and Michael Adams (26-0) replaced Jansen and he continued the good work bowling very tidily.

Banks-Williams was really flying in now and he picked up the next two wickets to fall as Sarisbury slipped to 70-3. The young Hampshire paceman was bowling with great accuracy and pace with both wickets being well caught behind by wicket-keeper Corbett.

With dark clouds approaching Sarisbury knew they would be behind the rate so they decided to play cautiously.

The score progressed past 100 and then Nyumbu (17-1) brought himself into the attack. The Zimbabwean again bowled very well and he picked up the fourth wicket trapping the Sarisbury batter LBW.

One run later Andover had their fifth wicket with the return Jansen picking up from where he left earlier and Andover were on top.

Andover then threw everything at the Sarisbury batters and in persistent drizzle the umpires could have taken Andover off at any point.

Word was coming from the scorers that it was nip and tuck, another Andover wicket would mean Andover were in front whilst a few more runs would mean Sarisbury would be leading. With the ball and pitch getting damp Andover had to bowl their seamers and all tried in vain to prize out the next wicket.

In, what turned out to be the last over of the match, the Sarisbury batter was able to edge two fours on a slippery pitch and Sarisbury moved ahead by five runs. Unfortunately, the sensible decision was taken and the game was ended early due to the rain and Sarisbury were left in front, winning by five runs.

It was a disappointing day for Andover but they can take great heart knowing they have pushed the top two sides in defeat.

The town side travel to Hook on Saturday, a side they beat earlier in the season, in the hope they can turn their good performances into a victory and start pushing themselves up the table.