ANDOVER started their league campaign with a stunning victory away at Liphook and Ripsley.

Captain Mike Adams won the toss and elected to field, which appeared to backfire as the Liphook opening pair scored 55 off the first ten overs.

Adams himself was the first to make a breakthrough thanks to a fine catch from Dylan Augustus.

The introduction of the miserly Dave Taylor saw the run rate plummet then Matt Hooper claimed two important wickets while Danny Foy got opener Nicklin for a wellmade 71.

The reintroduction of Taylor at the death was a masterstroke.and he ended with excellent figures of 3-40 off his ten overs and with the variety of Adams at the other end – the skipper claiming two wickets for himself – Liphook closed on 248-8 off 50 overs.

Andover’s run chase started in disastrous fashion, losing new signings Darron Augustus and Will Arnold in quick succession.

With only 40 on the board the visitors lost dangerman Ali Hooper for 15 and the experienced Glyn Treagus.

Enter Taylor, the former one day world record holder and run machine. He was briefly accompanied by Martin Roberts and Matt Knight but before Andover knew it, they were 60-6 and facing a heavy defeat.

Taylor had other ideas as he started to build some momentum with some lusty straight sixes, well supported by Matt Hooper.

When he departed thanks to a great catch in the deep, it was left to the tail with one simple memo; stay with Taylor.

The former pro realised time was running out at 120-8 with only 18 overs left.

He raced from 50 to a century taking the spinners apart with some huge sixes, 14 maximums in total for his innings.

When Danny Foy fell it was down to number 11 Adams to play a captain’s innings and support Taylor to the death.

Taylor continued to plunder the home side attack and ended with 172 not out off just 110 balls with only two other scores in double figures.