HAMPSHIRE'S Academy youngsters thrust themselves into the thick of the ECB Southern Electric Premier League leadership race with a battling 54-run win over Andover at the Rose Bowl Nursery.

Basingstoke teenager Mitchell Stokes had a hand in six separate dismissals as the Academy, defending 221-8, hauled Andover back from a threatening 85-1 to earn an important win.

Stokes took three wickets and a catch, besides being involved in two run-outs, as Andover dropped to 167 all out.

Andover, who had begun the eighth round of matches in third place, had to work hard for their successes after putting the Academy in to bat.

Kevin Latouf (28) and Stuart Ransley (26) provided a sound start - both openers were caught behind off Roger Miller - which David Wheeler (45) subsequently improved.

The Young Hawks dropped to 150-5 (Stokes 25) when Wheeler became ex-Sussex 2nd XI spinner Jake Dean's second victim.

A hamstring injury sustained by Dean Woodhouse limited Andover's bowling options.

But David Griffiths biffed a timely 40 and, with James Tomlinson (32 not out) alongside, helped the Academy to 221-8, Miller taking three late wickets to finish with 5-59.

In-form Mark Miller was facing a hat-trick of ducks on the Nursery pitch he helps to prepare.

But the Rose Bowl assistant groundsman hit a brisk 48 to give Andover a positive 64-run start.

It tended to go wrong for Andover after that, though, with the off-spin of Stokes prising open the visitors middle-order.

The May's Bounty youngster got Roger Miller and Ian Langdown before running out Stuart Summers to leave Andover up against it at 122-5.

As always, Toby Radford was left holding the fort as partners came and went - Metcalfe having Mark Copleston caught behind and then Stokes running out Dean as Andover dropped to 148-7.

When Radford became a third victim for Stokes (3-35), the end was nigh for Andover, whose last three wickets went down for three runs - Griffiths (3-57) finishing the innings at 167 all out.