ANDOVER HOMING IN ON PREMIER RETURN

Andover are firmly on course to regain their place in the top flight of Southern Electric Premier League cricket after just one season in Division 2.
A thumping nine-wicket win over Bournemouth II, which coincided with New Milton losing yet again, has put Richard Taylor’s side 34 points clear at the top. They trampled all over Bournemouth, dismissing the visitors for 144 before chasing down an abridged target of 124 in less than 21 overs.
Bournemouth wobbled at 48-3 (Jake Hurley 20) after a two-wicket blast by Taylor.
Chris Ridley (34) and debutant George Russell (33) rallied but from 109-3, Bournemouth lost seven wickets for 35 runs – the last four for just one run – and dropped to 144 all out. Mike Adams (3-33) and Luke Graham (3-26) shared the spoils.  It took Andover 20.5 overs to polish off the runs – Ali Hooper cracking 70 not out and James O’Gorman an unbeaten 39.
South African Byron Van der Merwe's second century of the season helped Burridge to dispel any lingering relegation fears as they drilled another dent in New Milton’s faltering promotion challenge.
They beat the New Forest club by 127 runs in a rain-affected match at Botley Road. Van der Merwe, named the SPL2 player of the month for July, maintained his fine form by providing the backbone to the Burridge innings of 268-8 with an innings of 100, which puts him hard on the heels of the division's top run-getters, despite missing the first three games of the summer. His century, made in 122 balls with 17 boundaries, ensured New Milton's dismal run continued, with their promotion hopes having almost certainly been dashed by four successive defeats.  Van Der Merwe received good support from opener Nick Ball, with an aggressive 41 in a stand of 85, Alex Styles (28) and skipper Rick Ankers (25).
Despite three rain interruptions, Burridge maintained their focus to set New Milton a rain reduced target of 233 in 38 overs, with Eric Linge (3-51) the most successful of the visitor's bowlers.  Any hopes of chasing down the runs were blown away by impressive opening spells from Burridge bowlers Nick McMurray (3-32) and Sully White (3-36), who had New Milton reeling at 59-6.  Dan Loader (37) provided some brief hope but Van der Merwe again proved New Milton's undoing as he took two wickets with his first deliveries, while left-armer Martin Bundy finished things off with another two wickets.