Southern Electric Premier League Division 3.

Sparsholt (230-7) beat Andover II (229ao).

Sparsholt recorded their sixth Southern Premier League Div 3 win in a row to move within a point's average of leaders Hook and Newnham with a three-wicket win over Andover seconds.

After losing an early wicket to Mark Zawadski, a fine century from Stu Simmons, supported by 40 from Ally Hooper, put Andover in a strong position with plenty of overs remaining, as Sparsholt's bowlers struggled to find their line and length.

At one stage Andover stood at 212 for 4, but Tim Vokes (5-39) broke through to clean up the tail supported well by Mark Stone (3-21) as the visitors slumped to 229 all out.

In reply, Andover contained Sparsholt's usually free scoring openers, who found runs hard to come by on a slow wicket. Nonetheless, Tom Viljoen (44) and Matt Cansdale (62) shared another solid opening partnership of 79, before Dave Gough (41) and skipper Andy Heyes(23) had Sparsholt in the driving seat at 178 for 2.

Gough's dismissal sparked a middle order collapse which saw the hosts still requiring 17 when the seventh wicket fell, but the ever-reliable Carl Nicholls, and Stone both hit huge sixes to see the hosts home with four overs to spare.

Sparsholt 2nds eased their relegation worries in Hampshire League Division 4 with a big win at South Newton.

Sparsholt batted first, making 201 for 8 - Tim Simmonite scoring a fine 90, supported by David Coulthard (18) and Rob Carslake (15). South Newton could only muster 54 in reply, Roger Aitken (4-6) and James Pickering (3-9) the main destroyers as Sparsholt romped home by 147 runs.

Sparsholt IIIs lost by 41 runs at Chandler's Ford and Compton. The hosts scored 190 for 7 (Tony Dunford 3-18, Mike Ball 2-21), Sparsholt made 149 all out in reply (Dave Brown 40, Bill Gunyon 30). All-rounder Dunford was also unbeaten with the bat, but no one was able to stay with him to see the visitors home.