BASINGSTOKE and North Hants opened their league campaign with an emphatic 153-run victory over newly relegated Ventnor in the British Gas Southern League Division One.
Having been put into bat by the island side, the Bountymen never looked back as they cruised to victory, writes Graham Merry, Basingstoke Gazette.
Openers Dan Belcher, pictured left, and Joe Oates made an excellent start as they hammered 87 off the first 10 overs.
The visitor’s plight was not helped by the loss of front line bowler Rob Snell to injury after just two overs.
Ventnor finally broke the opening stand with 120 on board in the 20th over, as Oates (35) was caught by Snell, which gave Zeph Wells the first of his three wickets.
Skipper Mitch Stokes (10) then had a short stay in the centre, before Belcher and Will Phillips (20) added 43 for the third wicket taking the score to 184.
Just before the 200 mark, Belcher (86) became the fourth man out, as Wells took his second of three catches which gave Hugh Calloway his second wicket.
The excellent knock from the opener, saw him hit 10 fours and one six in his 102 ball stay at the crease.
With 12 overs left in their innings, Dean Nurse now took up the mantle for the home side as he smashed an unbeaten 62 from 40 balls. He cleared the boundary ropes four times and also added another five fours. Along with Scott Dyer (7) they moved the score to 227-5.
Basingstoke's new player/coach Dave Griffiths (21) and Nurse then took the total past 250.
It was then left to Nurse and James (19 not out) to finish off the job as Basingstoke ended on 307-7 from their 50 overs.
Ventnor’s reply started well enough with Snell (32) and John Buckman (16) helping themselves to 44 in the first 10 overs.
Martyn James (2-39) then had skipper Snell caught by Griffiths and soon after Jamie Miller followed for a duck.
In the next over, Mitch Stokes (2-21) struck as Dyer picked up his second catch as Buckman was returned to the pavilion.
The home side now looked on top and after 25 overs Ventnor had struggled to 88-4 as Stokes struck again to remove James Cheek (16).
With their chances fading fast of getting anywhere near 300, Toby Corbin was removed by spin king Matt Thankachan (2-30), before Stokes caught top scorer Martin Blackman for 33 which gave Ryan Connor his only wicket from a short three over spell.
Ben Woodhouse was then dismissed by the quick hands of George Metzger as he was stumped off the bowling of Thankachan to make it 127-7.
Phillips then became the fifth bowler to be used in the attack and with his very first ball he bowled Hugh Calloway.
The same bowler then had teenage Pompey fan and Paul Cook admirer Ben Attrill (20) caught behind and finished with 3-14 from 18 balls, bowling Wells, as Ventnor were all out for 154 with five overs remaining.
Having been put into bat by the island side, the Bountymen never looked back as they cruised to victory, writes Graham Merry, Basingstoke Gazette.
Openers Dan Belcher, pictured left, and Joe Oates made an excellent start as they hammered 87 off the first 10 overs.
The visitor’s plight was not helped by the loss of front line bowler Rob Snell to injury after just two overs.
Ventnor finally broke the opening stand with 120 on board in the 20th over, as Oates (35) was caught by Snell, which gave Zeph Wells the first of his three wickets.
Skipper Mitch Stokes (10) then had a short stay in the centre, before Belcher and Will Phillips (20) added 43 for the third wicket taking the score to 184.
Just before the 200 mark, Belcher (86) became the fourth man out, as Wells took his second of three catches which gave Hugh Calloway his second wicket.
The excellent knock from the opener, saw him hit 10 fours and one six in his 102 ball stay at the crease.
With 12 overs left in their innings, Dean Nurse now took up the mantle for the home side as he smashed an unbeaten 62 from 40 balls. He cleared the boundary ropes four times and also added another five fours. Along with Scott Dyer (7) they moved the score to 227-5.
Basingstoke's new player/coach Dave Griffiths (21) and Nurse then took the total past 250.
It was then left to Nurse and James (19 not out) to finish off the job as Basingstoke ended on 307-7 from their 50 overs.
Ventnor’s reply started well enough with Snell (32) and John Buckman (16) helping themselves to 44 in the first 10 overs.
Martyn James (2-39) then had skipper Snell caught by Griffiths and soon after Jamie Miller followed for a duck.
In the next over, Mitch Stokes (2-21) struck as Dyer picked up his second catch as Buckman was returned to the pavilion.
The home side now looked on top and after 25 overs Ventnor had struggled to 88-4 as Stokes struck again to remove James Cheek (16).
With their chances fading fast of getting anywhere near 300, Toby Corbin was removed by spin king Matt Thankachan (2-30), before Stokes caught top scorer Martin Blackman for 33 which gave Ryan Connor his only wicket from a short three over spell.
Ben Woodhouse was then dismissed by the quick hands of George Metzger as he was stumped off the bowling of Thankachan to make it 127-7.
Phillips then became the fifth bowler to be used in the attack and with his very first ball he bowled Hugh Calloway.
The same bowler then had teenage Pompey fan and Paul Cook admirer Ben Attrill (20) caught behind and finished with 3-14 from 18 balls, bowling Wells, as Ventnor were all out for 154 with five overs remaining.
