DAN Belcher scored an unbeaten century, but it was all in vain as Basingstoke and North Hants suffered their first loss of the league campaign to visiting Liphook and Ripsley.
The leaders were beaten by three wickets, but as second placed Bournemouth also surrendered their 100 per cent start, the Bountymen remain top of the British Gas Southern League Division One. Captain Mitchell Stokes highlighted Basingstoke’s poor catching and fielding as a prime reason for their defeat.
Having been put into bat Stoke made a steady start, losing Joe Oates (13) with 31 on the board and George Metzger (14) after 62 runs. Belcher and skipper Mitch Stokes (38) from 23 balls added 59 for the third wicket. Dean Nurse (1) then had a rare failure, before Belcher and Scott Dyer (54) enjoyed a century partnership.
In the end the Bountymen made 246-5 from their 50 overs, as Dan Wrenn and Rob Nicklin took two wickets each. Belcher, left, finished on 109 not out, hitting 10 fours as he faced 147 balls.
The Liphook reply got off to a good start, as Ryan Covey (50) and Nicklin (31) put on 66 for the first wicket. They were parted when Nicklin was bowled by David Griffiths (2-40) and then next ball Griffith’s had Giles Cover caught behind by Metzger for a golden duck. Suman Ganguly (50) came to the centre and along with Covey they took the score to 124-3.
Covey was the first of four wickets for Ryan Connor thanks to a catch from Martyn James. His departure saw Mainak Ray (59 not out) join Ganguly and they added another 50 runs for the next wicket. Ray and Basingstoke-raised Grant Rouse (22) took the score pass 200, but the innings then had a little wobble as Rouse was caught behind by Metzger for Connor’s second wicket of the game.
The same bowler, next ball had George Neave trapped leg before to make it 212-6. Wrenn fended off the hat-trick ball, but was soon also in the pavilion and Liphook were now seven down and still needed 12 for victory. It was left to Ray to make sure of the win, as Liphook moved into joint second place behind Basingstoke in the table. Graham Merry, Basingstoke Gazette
The leaders were beaten by three wickets, but as second placed Bournemouth also surrendered their 100 per cent start, the Bountymen remain top of the British Gas Southern League Division One. Captain Mitchell Stokes highlighted Basingstoke’s poor catching and fielding as a prime reason for their defeat.
Having been put into bat Stoke made a steady start, losing Joe Oates (13) with 31 on the board and George Metzger (14) after 62 runs. Belcher and skipper Mitch Stokes (38) from 23 balls added 59 for the third wicket. Dean Nurse (1) then had a rare failure, before Belcher and Scott Dyer (54) enjoyed a century partnership.
In the end the Bountymen made 246-5 from their 50 overs, as Dan Wrenn and Rob Nicklin took two wickets each. Belcher, left, finished on 109 not out, hitting 10 fours as he faced 147 balls.
The Liphook reply got off to a good start, as Ryan Covey (50) and Nicklin (31) put on 66 for the first wicket. They were parted when Nicklin was bowled by David Griffiths (2-40) and then next ball Griffith’s had Giles Cover caught behind by Metzger for a golden duck. Suman Ganguly (50) came to the centre and along with Covey they took the score to 124-3.
Covey was the first of four wickets for Ryan Connor thanks to a catch from Martyn James. His departure saw Mainak Ray (59 not out) join Ganguly and they added another 50 runs for the next wicket. Ray and Basingstoke-raised Grant Rouse (22) took the score pass 200, but the innings then had a little wobble as Rouse was caught behind by Metzger for Connor’s second wicket of the game.
The same bowler, next ball had George Neave trapped leg before to make it 212-6. Wrenn fended off the hat-trick ball, but was soon also in the pavilion and Liphook were now seven down and still needed 12 for victory. It was left to Ray to make sure of the win, as Liphook moved into joint second place behind Basingstoke in the table. Graham Merry, Basingstoke Gazette
