Hook and Newnham Basics finished 24 runs short after a gallant effort to chase down a towering Andover total of 306-8 in their final Southern Premier Division 1 match of the season at the KGV, writes Mike Vimpany.

They closed 282-8 at stumps in a match that produced 588 runs - 121 of which came from the broad bat of Richmond Mutambami, who finished the summer with 812 runs, the highest individual aggregate in the SPL.

Ironically, the former Zimbabwe international had to dig Andover out of early trouble at 9-3 before he and Nathan Birks (73) put together a 158-run fourth-wicket stand.

Mutambami plundered two sixes and 15 fours, with Birks hitting the boundary rope 11 times.

Josh Williams (41) and Matt Hooper (25) joined in the run spree as Andover pushed on to 306-8 (Jack Murrell 3-41).

A century opening stand between Sam Lockwood (74) and Harry Warner (43) gave Hook a healthy start before four wickets fell for 44 runs.

Hook certainly didn't give up, Rupes Armstrong (53) and the promising Alex Corbett (34) taking the response past the 250 mark before Murrell made a late 27.