ANDOVER moved ahead of Rowledge in Division?One of the Southern Electric Cricket League after winning this mid-table battle by 24 runs last Saturday.

Replying to Andover’s 221-8, the home team had reached 197 when David Lloyd was last man out for a fine 73.

Skipper Lloyd was well supported by Alex Bloomfield as the pair got Rowledge back on track with a stand of 77.

However, after Bloomfield edged behind the tail were unable to contribute enough as the Augustus brothers, Darron and Dylan, polished off the innings.

After a wretched first half of the season, Lloyd, who gets married on Friday, has showed his true class with three half-centuries on the bounce.

The recalled Tom Gleave was an early victim for Darron Augustus. After being struck on the helmet by a short ball, another delivery only slightly fuller kept lower and bowled him. Ian Metcalfe’s promising innings was ended by a Mike Adams slower ball and with his next delivery, Adams bowled Nick Taylor.

When Will Davies pressed forward to spinner Matt Hooper and was caught behind, Rowledge had slumped to 55-4 and Lloyd and Bloomfield had to start their repair work.

Earlier, Andover had got off to a flier. The ever-dangerous Dave Taylor had injured himself moments before the game started, severely limiting his movement. Intent on hitting boundaries, he struck four fours and three sixes to see Jake Wish out of the attack.

Taylor then resorted to slogging and the canny Chris Yates Snr promptly trapped him leg before. Ali Hooper played an excellent innings, however, punishing anything loose while being watchful throughout.

George Keeley, on his first-team league debut, bowled former Rowledge player Will Arnold for six and figures of 10-4-26-1 was an excellent effort from the 17-year-old slow left-armer as he and Yates Snr (10-5-19-1) did an outstanding job at stifling the scoring rate.

The pressure told on Andover and Richard Forbes ran out Darron Augustus with a direct hit at the bowler’s end from square leg.

The quality of Glyn Treagus, who reached his 50 with a six off the final ball of the innings, coupled with Ali Hooper (65) and then the brute force of Matt Knight (28), enabled Andover to reach a healthy 221-6 from their 50 overs and, despite Lloyd’s 85-ball 73, including eight fours and a six, it proved enough to win the day.

Rowledge are away to Basingstoke & North Hants on Saturday.