LIPHOOK & Ripsley dropped into the bottom half of the Southern Premier League Division One table with this defeat – their fourth in a row.

But despite their alarming slide, Liphook could take positives from their agonising eight-run defeat at Andover.

The plus points were the performances of two teenagers. Sixteen-year-old Jack Cambell looked the best bowler on the day, while George Neave, aged 17, followed up his four wickets with a blistering innings that took Liphook to the brink of a sensational win.

Charles Janczur lost the toss and Andover had first use of a batsman’s paradise at London Road. Campbell had Glynn Treagus dropped in the slips off his first ball and, considering the conditions, his final figures of 10-3-26-2 were exceptional.

Cambell apart, Liphook’s bowling, and fielding, was well below par. The visitors would have hoped to hold Andover to around 250. Instead, the home side posted 289-9 from their 50 overs.

Treagus, after his ‘life’, went on to make 57, paving the way for New Zealander James O’Gorman – 73 off 65 balls – and Max Souter – 50 off 37 – to accelerate away in the second half of the innings.

Liphook were patient in reply and took their time to build a platform, but four lbw dismissals disrupted their momentum and the decisions against Suman Ganguly, Ben Tibble (both sweeping off-spinners) and Chris Martin were open to debate.

When Martin went for 40, Liphook were 146-6 and looked out of the running.

But it was far from being all over. Dan Wrenn and Neave came together in an attacking partnership of 69 and suddenly Andover were fighting to save the game.

The rampant Neave was now partnered by Janczur and the pair got it down to 34 runs required from two overs and finally 14 wanted from the last over, to be bowled by paceman Adams.

Janczur hit three off the first ball. Neave took two off the next ball, but it was asking too much of the tiring youngster and he could not connect with the last four.

Neave’s unbeaten 89 came off just 64 balls and contained nine fours and three sixes. The umpires said it was the best innings they had seen by a 17-year-old chasing a target and one was Dennis Emery who is head of the panel.

Liphook will hope to get back on the winning trail when they host lowly Totton & Eling this Saturday.