Mitch Stokes in full cry : Chris Park admires. Dave Vokes Photography.
BASINGSTOKE and North Hants got themselves back in the British Gas Southern League Division One leadership race after they beat visiting table toppers Bournemouth by six wickets at May’s Bounty.
The victory moved the Bountymen into second spot, behind new leaders Calmore Sports, while Bournemouth slipped to third, writes the Basingstoke Gazette’s Graham Merry.
Basingstoke captain Mitch Stokes was the star of the show with an unbeaten 89, as the home side reached their winning total of 175 with 16 overs to spare.
Bournemouth won the toss at May’s Bounty and elected to bat, with Basingstoke 's opening bowler Martyn James turning in his meanest spell of the season so far.
His figures 3-13 were even more remarkable as in one ball he was hit for six and in the other 59 balls he conceded just seven runs, as he bowled six maiden overs.
Bournemouth opener Ben Bridgen was the player to hit him for six and James gained revenge as Bridgen (19) was one of his three wickets, as the visitors struggled to 52-3. Nick Park (11) and Luke Matthews (12) were the other two batsmen out.
After this, Chris Park (33) and former Colehill & Wimborne left-arm all-rounder Simon Woodruff (61) set about building some sort of score for the visitors. The pair added 57 for the fourth wicket, before Park was run out by Will Phillips in the 30th over.
Woodruff kept the scoreboard ticking and along with Jake Hurley (7), they took the score to 157-5, before Hurley was bowled by Phillips, the first of his three wickets. With only one run added, the home side snapped up the prized scalp of Woodruff to end his innings which included 11 fours and one six. He was caught behind by little George Metzger, as Phillips (3-46) collected another wicket.
At this point the home side really put the brakes on the Bournemouth innings, as they added only 16 more runs, being bowled out for 174 in the 49th over. Two of the late wickets being run outs by Ryan Connor and Metzger.
Basingstoke openers Chris Oliver (14) and Metzger (10) were both back in the pavilion with 28 on the board and soon joined by Will Phillips as the Bountymen lurched to 42-3 after 13 overs.
At this point the game was in the balance, but Stokes and player/coach David Griffiths (28) set about building the platform for victory as they added 77 for the fourth wicket. Griffiths’ 39 ball stay at the centre, which included a six and two fours, was ended by Rob Pack who trapped him leg before.
However, this was the last wicket the Bountymen lost, as Stokes and Dean Nurse (16) guided them home to a comfortable victory. Stokes finishing unbeaten on 89 from 75 balls, which saw him hit one six and 12 fours this included 15 in the first over bowled by Albie Wilmore.
The victory moved the Bountymen into second spot, behind new leaders Calmore Sports, while Bournemouth slipped to third, writes the Basingstoke Gazette’s Graham Merry.
Basingstoke captain Mitch Stokes was the star of the show with an unbeaten 89, as the home side reached their winning total of 175 with 16 overs to spare.
Bournemouth won the toss at May’s Bounty and elected to bat, with Basingstoke 's opening bowler Martyn James turning in his meanest spell of the season so far.
His figures 3-13 were even more remarkable as in one ball he was hit for six and in the other 59 balls he conceded just seven runs, as he bowled six maiden overs.
Bournemouth opener Ben Bridgen was the player to hit him for six and James gained revenge as Bridgen (19) was one of his three wickets, as the visitors struggled to 52-3. Nick Park (11) and Luke Matthews (12) were the other two batsmen out.
After this, Chris Park (33) and former Colehill & Wimborne left-arm all-rounder Simon Woodruff (61) set about building some sort of score for the visitors. The pair added 57 for the fourth wicket, before Park was run out by Will Phillips in the 30th over.
Woodruff kept the scoreboard ticking and along with Jake Hurley (7), they took the score to 157-5, before Hurley was bowled by Phillips, the first of his three wickets. With only one run added, the home side snapped up the prized scalp of Woodruff to end his innings which included 11 fours and one six. He was caught behind by little George Metzger, as Phillips (3-46) collected another wicket.
At this point the home side really put the brakes on the Bournemouth innings, as they added only 16 more runs, being bowled out for 174 in the 49th over. Two of the late wickets being run outs by Ryan Connor and Metzger.
Basingstoke openers Chris Oliver (14) and Metzger (10) were both back in the pavilion with 28 on the board and soon joined by Will Phillips as the Bountymen lurched to 42-3 after 13 overs.
At this point the game was in the balance, but Stokes and player/coach David Griffiths (28) set about building the platform for victory as they added 77 for the fourth wicket. Griffiths’ 39 ball stay at the centre, which included a six and two fours, was ended by Rob Pack who trapped him leg before.
However, this was the last wicket the Bountymen lost, as Stokes and Dean Nurse (16) guided them home to a comfortable victory. Stokes finishing unbeaten on 89 from 75 balls, which saw him hit one six and 12 fours this included 15 in the first over bowled by Albie Wilmore.
Mitch Stokes comes off to a standing ovation, inc Dave Vokes.
