Basingstoke's cup winners Top (from left): Dan Belcher, Brad Neal, Martyn Hames, Lawrence Benge, Ash Neal, Harry Smith. Front: Chris Jolley, Nitin Mathew, Joe Oates (with cup), Mitch Stokes, Matt Deadman (Picture: Neil Smith).
Basingstoke & North Hants have their first silverware of the season in the May’s Bounty trophy cabinet after winning the Don Lynch Aylward Cup this week.
They beat Thames Valley League outfit Cove by 16 runs at Hartley Wintney – the long standing midweek competition being played on a 15 eight-ball over basis.
“It’s great to win our first of the season and hopefully this will give us the confidence to move on and secure the biggest prize we can get – and that’s the Premier League Division 1 title,” said skipper Mitchell Stokes.
“This season is all about winning a place in the Premier Division in 2018.
“We’ve been in Division 1 four years now, never finishing higher than third, so it’s high time we moved on.”
Basingstoke go into Saturday's round 14 programme sharing the SPL1 leadership with Calmore – each club had 175 points – but next Saturday promises to be a crunch one for Stokes and his team-mates.
“Bournemouth at Chapel Gate will be an intriguing one, crucial to both sides, especially us as we look to have a potentially harder run in than Calmore, particularly as our season ends at Hook & Newnham Basics – not the easiest place to go and win a championship,” Stokes added.
Dan Belcher (68) was man of the match as Basingstoke posted 151-6 (Joe Oates 31).
Midway through their reply with Nick Farr (62) and Stan Marisa (40) going well, Cove (at 115-2) appeared to be on top, but Basingstoke gradually dragged it back.
Teenage off-spinner Ash Neal conceded only two runs off the penultimate over before Cove finished 16 runs adrift at 135-9.
•Basingstoke & North Hants host their second Serious Cricket 50-over Challenge match when Finchampstead visit May’s Bounty on Sunday, 1pm.
They beat Thames Valley League outfit Cove by 16 runs at Hartley Wintney – the long standing midweek competition being played on a 15 eight-ball over basis.
“It’s great to win our first of the season and hopefully this will give us the confidence to move on and secure the biggest prize we can get – and that’s the Premier League Division 1 title,” said skipper Mitchell Stokes.
“This season is all about winning a place in the Premier Division in 2018.
“We’ve been in Division 1 four years now, never finishing higher than third, so it’s high time we moved on.”
Basingstoke go into Saturday's round 14 programme sharing the SPL1 leadership with Calmore – each club had 175 points – but next Saturday promises to be a crunch one for Stokes and his team-mates.
“Bournemouth at Chapel Gate will be an intriguing one, crucial to both sides, especially us as we look to have a potentially harder run in than Calmore, particularly as our season ends at Hook & Newnham Basics – not the easiest place to go and win a championship,” Stokes added.
Dan Belcher (68) was man of the match as Basingstoke posted 151-6 (Joe Oates 31).
Midway through their reply with Nick Farr (62) and Stan Marisa (40) going well, Cove (at 115-2) appeared to be on top, but Basingstoke gradually dragged it back.
Teenage off-spinner Ash Neal conceded only two runs off the penultimate over before Cove finished 16 runs adrift at 135-9.
•Basingstoke & North Hants host their second Serious Cricket 50-over Challenge match when Finchampstead visit May’s Bounty on Sunday, 1pm.
