Hampshire Academy v Andover

A very promising return of 5-38 from Hampshire Academy all-rounder David Griffiths coupled with half centuries from Alex Richardson and Tom Burrows was not quite enough for the depleted bowling attack of the young Hawks to secure a third consecutive "time" victory in a thoroughly enjoyable game at the Rose Bowl.

The Academy remain unbeaten at the toss as captain Giles White again chose to have first use of the Nursery Ground pitch in ideal conditions. Despite canny bowling from Andover captain Roger Miller (2-34) and Hampshire Under 19 all-rounder Matt Hooper (2-35) Hampshire reached lunch in a position of some strength at 164-4 in 41 overs. However, on the day, an Academy trend of getting out when well set continued in the dismissals soon after lunch of Alex Richardson (61 in 119 balls, 9 fours) and Tom Burrows (52 in 73 balls, 9 fours), within the space of three overs. From thereon in the Academy rather stuttered to 250 all out in their last available over, having at one stage been 181-5 with almost twenty overs remaining; missing out on 2 batting points in the process.

Having been hit on the foot while batting, the Academy had to do without the services of last week's leading wicket taker Luke Merry throughout the Andover reply. David Griffiths bowled with real pace to quickly remove both Andover openers before tea but the experience of Toby Radford (27) and Roger Miller (75 in 128 balls, 1 six, 9 fours), batting with an injured hand, saw Andover to calmer waters. An excellent 4th wicket partnership of 107 in 62 minutes between Miller and Ian Gardner (40) threatened to take the game away from Hampshire, but when the unfortunate Matthew Metcalfe finally dismissed the Andover captain -having earlier bowled him with a no-ball and having had Radford dropped in the slipsa dramatic collapse ensued. From being 156-3 Andover slumped to 177-8 due to the returning Griffiths and the steady Mitchell Stokes. When Griffiths had to come off having completed his age-restricted spell of six overs, Hampshire Colts van der Merwe and Hooper had little trouble in batting out a losing draw: a fair result in the circumstances, ending a very entertaining day's play which was somewhat strewn with various limb injuries to both sides.