A BIG crowd is expected at May’s Bounty, when Basingstoke and North Hants host local rivals Hook and Newnham Basics in a Southern Electric Premier Division One top-of-the- table clash.
The Bountymen go into the game second in the standings, having won all five of their league outings so far this season, writes the Basingstoke Gazette's John Boyman..
Hook sit third in the table after losing to Hartley Wintney last week and will be desperate to close the gap by winning at May’s Bounty.
Basics captain Matt Love is relishing the challenge of taking on high-flying Basingstoke.
He said: “These are the games we all want to play in. We will be playing against our mates and it will be a good standard of cricket.”
Basingstoke captain Chris Froud admits that tomorrow’s game will have a different feel.
“Everyone knows each other, which could be a good thing or a bad thing,” he explained. “It brings in a different element, but I think we are all getting over the whole local derby thing.”
Hook's perfect start to the season may have come to an end last week, but the Basingstoke captain still sees them as genuine contenders for the SPL1 title.
Love’s men suffered a surprise 34-run defeat at the hands of local rivals Hartley Wintney, a result that allowed Basingstoke to move above them and into second place in the league table.
The Bountymen are one of just two teams who have won their opening five matches and go into the derby against Hook a single point behind table-topping New Milton, who take a full strength side to Andover.
However, Froud insists that Hook should not be written off and is expecting something of a backlash when they visit May’s Bounty.
“Hook have been playing well and it is going to be a tough game,” the Basingstoke skipper said. “Based on their early season form, I’d definitely say that they are in title contention, so it’s a big game.
“I thought that they would beat Hartley Wintney and was a bit shocked that they lost, but they’ll certainly be keen to bounce back and beat us.
“We have made a good start, but it’s all about consistency and keeping it going. As we found out last year, winning every week is difficult and we have some really tough games coming up.
“We have played a lot of teams near the bottom of the league so far, so the next couple of weeks could have a big effect on the way our season pans out. We’ll have a better idea of where we are at the end of the month.”
Having failed to perform to their capabilities in their defeat to Hartley, Hook could be something of a wounded animal tomorrow.
Skipper Love is looking for a reaction from his side.
“When you don’t play well and lose, it’s not fun,” he said. “We know we will lose games but we are not happy with the manner of that defeat.
“You cannot win every game and having lost for the first time, it is important that we react in the right way. We will be raring to go and want to put things right when we come up against Basingstoke.
“It’s going to be a tough game. Basingstoke are a good team and we respect them. We get on really well as players and we love playing at May’s Bounty. We should take a decent crowd with us and it will be a good occasion.”
Both sides will have to make changes for the game.
Seam bowler Graham Porter and batsman Dean Nurse will be missing for Basingstoke, while Hook will be without Richard Willcock, their top scorer in the Hartley game.
However, Love’s side will be strengthened by the return of another batsman, Matt Buckingham.
Hartley Wintney, who play Hook in the Southern Electric t20 Cup on the historic Cricket Green on Sunday 3pm, visit Liphook & Ripsley.
The Bountymen go into the game second in the standings, having won all five of their league outings so far this season, writes the Basingstoke Gazette's John Boyman..
Hook sit third in the table after losing to Hartley Wintney last week and will be desperate to close the gap by winning at May’s Bounty.
Basics captain Matt Love is relishing the challenge of taking on high-flying Basingstoke.
He said: “These are the games we all want to play in. We will be playing against our mates and it will be a good standard of cricket.”
Basingstoke captain Chris Froud admits that tomorrow’s game will have a different feel.
“Everyone knows each other, which could be a good thing or a bad thing,” he explained. “It brings in a different element, but I think we are all getting over the whole local derby thing.”
Hook's perfect start to the season may have come to an end last week, but the Basingstoke captain still sees them as genuine contenders for the SPL1 title.
Love’s men suffered a surprise 34-run defeat at the hands of local rivals Hartley Wintney, a result that allowed Basingstoke to move above them and into second place in the league table.
The Bountymen are one of just two teams who have won their opening five matches and go into the derby against Hook a single point behind table-topping New Milton, who take a full strength side to Andover.
However, Froud insists that Hook should not be written off and is expecting something of a backlash when they visit May’s Bounty.
“Hook have been playing well and it is going to be a tough game,” the Basingstoke skipper said. “Based on their early season form, I’d definitely say that they are in title contention, so it’s a big game.
“I thought that they would beat Hartley Wintney and was a bit shocked that they lost, but they’ll certainly be keen to bounce back and beat us.
“We have made a good start, but it’s all about consistency and keeping it going. As we found out last year, winning every week is difficult and we have some really tough games coming up.
“We have played a lot of teams near the bottom of the league so far, so the next couple of weeks could have a big effect on the way our season pans out. We’ll have a better idea of where we are at the end of the month.”
Having failed to perform to their capabilities in their defeat to Hartley, Hook could be something of a wounded animal tomorrow.
Skipper Love is looking for a reaction from his side.
“When you don’t play well and lose, it’s not fun,” he said. “We know we will lose games but we are not happy with the manner of that defeat.
“You cannot win every game and having lost for the first time, it is important that we react in the right way. We will be raring to go and want to put things right when we come up against Basingstoke.
“It’s going to be a tough game. Basingstoke are a good team and we respect them. We get on really well as players and we love playing at May’s Bounty. We should take a decent crowd with us and it will be a good occasion.”
Both sides will have to make changes for the game.
Seam bowler Graham Porter and batsman Dean Nurse will be missing for Basingstoke, while Hook will be without Richard Willcock, their top scorer in the Hartley game.
However, Love’s side will be strengthened by the return of another batsman, Matt Buckingham.
Hartley Wintney, who play Hook in the Southern Electric t20 Cup on the historic Cricket Green on Sunday 3pm, visit Liphook & Ripsley.