There was high drama at May's Bounty as Basingstoke & North Hants carried off the Don Lynch Aylward Cup after their final with Yateley ended with each side scoring 150 off 15 eight-ball overs and the Bountymen taking the silverware by virtue of losing least wickets.
Mitch Stokes, with three sixes and six fours, top scored with 59 and received support from Martyn James (34) and USA-bound Brad Neal (29) as Basingstoke made 150-7.
Yateley lost a wicket off the first ball of their reply and were soon 7-2, but former Hampshire Academy prospect Jimmy Halson (59) held firm as wickets tumbled at the opposite end. But just as Halsom had found his range with some big hits, he was caught in the deep, as were Dan Bong (25) and four-wicket Stuart Lipo. Harry Smith (5-45) continued to chip away while Yateley needed 31 to win at then start of the penultimate over, then 15 off the last. They closed 150-9, with teenager Smith named Man of the Match.
Mitch Stokes, with three sixes and six fours, top scored with 59 and received support from Martyn James (34) and USA-bound Brad Neal (29) as Basingstoke made 150-7.
Yateley lost a wicket off the first ball of their reply and were soon 7-2, but former Hampshire Academy prospect Jimmy Halson (59) held firm as wickets tumbled at the opposite end. But just as Halsom had found his range with some big hits, he was caught in the deep, as were Dan Bong (25) and four-wicket Stuart Lipo. Harry Smith (5-45) continued to chip away while Yateley needed 31 to win at then start of the penultimate over, then 15 off the last. They closed 150-9, with teenager Smith named Man of the Match.
