Basingstoke & North Hants climbed to within 14 points of leaders Totton & Eling after a six-wicket spell by left-arm spinner Rakitha Perera, which included a hat-trick, inspired a 60-run victory over New Milton – their fifth Southern Premier Division 1 win in a row.
With seven games to go, they have a chance of regaining the ECB Premier Division berth they lost at the end of 2019.
It’s a remarkable turnaround by Dan Belcher’s side, who lost their first three games and looked as though they might get relegated again.
Prospects didn’t look too good at fourth placed New Milton when Basingstoke were dismissed for 116 – but a quite astonishing collapse saw the hosts lose eight wickets for a paltry 17 runs and crash to 56 all out.
It was Perera, left, bowling for the first time in a Basingstoke 1st XI league match this season, who triggered New Milton’s downfall which began after Campbell Golding (22) and Lee Beck (17) had repaired the impact of a double strike by rampant teen Tyler Bradley (2-12).
After the 19-year old had dismissed Toby Edwards and South African Harlan Greig for ducks, Milton moved to 39-2 without further loss.
After spinner Ash Neal had bowled Beck, Perera spun his magic, dismissing Richard Wilson and Golding with consecutive deliveries to leave New Milton 43-5.
Perera’s hat-trick came in his next over when he bowled Jack Humphrey and Joe Hall before having Dan Loader caught to complete a memorable threesome. New Milton now 50-8.
Six runs and a sixth wicket for Perera later, New Milton were all out for 56.
Earlier, Basingstoke found it no easier to score runs, with Matt Deadman (28) making an important contribution at the top of the innings.
Ash Neal, Greg Donaldson and Dan Belcher all got into double figures before a couple of lusty blows by Matt Donaldson (18 not out), which both cleared the boundary rope, helped the visitors reach 116, spin duo Grieg and Hall sharing six of the wickets.
* Basingstoke look to push ahead with their unexpected promotion challenge against lowly St Cross Symondians II at the Green Jackets Ground on Saturday, 12.30pm.
With seven games to go, they have a chance of regaining the ECB Premier Division berth they lost at the end of 2019.
It’s a remarkable turnaround by Dan Belcher’s side, who lost their first three games and looked as though they might get relegated again.
Prospects didn’t look too good at fourth placed New Milton when Basingstoke were dismissed for 116 – but a quite astonishing collapse saw the hosts lose eight wickets for a paltry 17 runs and crash to 56 all out.
It was Perera, left, bowling for the first time in a Basingstoke 1st XI league match this season, who triggered New Milton’s downfall which began after Campbell Golding (22) and Lee Beck (17) had repaired the impact of a double strike by rampant teen Tyler Bradley (2-12).
After the 19-year old had dismissed Toby Edwards and South African Harlan Greig for ducks, Milton moved to 39-2 without further loss.
After spinner Ash Neal had bowled Beck, Perera spun his magic, dismissing Richard Wilson and Golding with consecutive deliveries to leave New Milton 43-5.
Perera’s hat-trick came in his next over when he bowled Jack Humphrey and Joe Hall before having Dan Loader caught to complete a memorable threesome. New Milton now 50-8.
Six runs and a sixth wicket for Perera later, New Milton were all out for 56.
Earlier, Basingstoke found it no easier to score runs, with Matt Deadman (28) making an important contribution at the top of the innings.
Ash Neal, Greg Donaldson and Dan Belcher all got into double figures before a couple of lusty blows by Matt Donaldson (18 not out), which both cleared the boundary rope, helped the visitors reach 116, spin duo Grieg and Hall sharing six of the wickets.
* Basingstoke look to push ahead with their unexpected promotion challenge against lowly St Cross Symondians II at the Green Jackets Ground on Saturday, 12.30pm.
