Joe Oates hit a superb 97 to take Basingstoke & North Hants to within touching distance of a remarkable win over Southern Premier Division 1 promotion contenders Sarisbury Athletic – only to watch on in horror as the Bountymen lost by three runs, a fateful late collapse wrecking their victory celebrations.
Arriving at the crease with Basingstoke 67-3 chasing Sarisbury’s 242-7, Oates doubled the Basingstoke score in a fourth-wicket partnership with Callum Coombs (52).
Striking three sixes and 13 fours over the tight Allotment Road boundary, he then dominated a fifth wicket stand of 97 with Brad Neal (24) and, when he became the third of four victims for Australian Ronan DeGrussa (4-31), Basingstoke were only 23 runs from their victory target.
Basingstoke had been 220-4 with Joe Oakes just three runs shy of his century. But his dismissal - caught by Cameron Grierson off the bowling of Ronan DeGrussa - was to prove a turning point.
Jordan Wright ensured nerves were jangling when he removed young Neil Shelar (8), and it was 232-7 when Bradley Neal (34) fell to Hill, again snaffled by Grierson.
DeGrussa bowled Matt Donaldson first ball and the ninth wicket went down on 236 when Hill had Rakitha Perera caught by Jack Lovett.
Doubled
Amid mounting tension, only another three runs had been added when Hiil (4-41) sealed a stunning win by dismissing Jake Fincken (3). The Gosnells bowler had begun the innings by removing openers Richard Vinn and Dubs Wood, reducing them to 6-3.
Sarisbury had reached 125-1 with half-centuries for Grierson (55) and Sam Floyd (50). Left-hander Jack Lovett, struck an unbeaten 52 off 48 balls - with seven fours and a six - as the hosts closed on 242-7.
Arriving at the crease with Basingstoke 67-3 chasing Sarisbury’s 242-7, Oates doubled the Basingstoke score in a fourth-wicket partnership with Callum Coombs (52).
Striking three sixes and 13 fours over the tight Allotment Road boundary, he then dominated a fifth wicket stand of 97 with Brad Neal (24) and, when he became the third of four victims for Australian Ronan DeGrussa (4-31), Basingstoke were only 23 runs from their victory target.
Basingstoke had been 220-4 with Joe Oakes just three runs shy of his century. But his dismissal - caught by Cameron Grierson off the bowling of Ronan DeGrussa - was to prove a turning point.
Jordan Wright ensured nerves were jangling when he removed young Neil Shelar (8), and it was 232-7 when Bradley Neal (34) fell to Hill, again snaffled by Grierson.
DeGrussa bowled Matt Donaldson first ball and the ninth wicket went down on 236 when Hill had Rakitha Perera caught by Jack Lovett.
Amid mounting tension, only another three runs had been added when Hiil (4-41) sealed a stunning win by dismissing Jake Fincken (3). The Gosnells bowler had begun the innings by removing openers Richard Vinn and Dubs Wood, reducing them to 6-3.
Sarisbury had reached 125-1 with half-centuries for Grierson (55) and Sam Floyd (50). Left-hander Jack Lovett, struck an unbeaten 52 off 48 balls - with seven fours and a six - as the hosts closed on 242-7.
Arriving at the crease with Basingstoke 67-3 chasing Sarisbury’s 242-7, Oates doubled the Basingstoke score in a fourth-wicket partnership with Callum Coombs (52).
Striking three sixes and 13 fours over the tight Allotment Road boundary, he then dominated a fifth wicket stand of 97 with Brad Neal (24) and, when he became the third of four victims for Australian Ronan DeGrussa (4-31), Basingstoke were only 23 runs from their victory target.
Basingstoke had been 220-4 with Joe Oakes just three runs shy of his century. But his dismissal - caught by Cameron Grierson off the bowling of Ronan DeGrussa - was to prove a turning point.
Jordan Wright ensured nerves were jangling when he removed young Neil Shelar (8), and it was 232-7 when Bradley Neal (34) fell to Hill, again snaffled by Grierson.
DeGrussa bowled Matt Donaldson first ball and the ninth wicket went down on 236 when Hill had Rakitha Perera caught by Jack Lovett.
Doubled
Amid mounting tension, only another three runs had been added when Hiil (4-41) sealed a stunning win by dismissing Jake Fincken (3). The Gosnells bowler had begun the innings by removing openers Richard Vinn and Dubs Wood, reducing them to 6-3.
Sarisbury had reached 125-1 with half-centuries for Grierson (55) and Sam Floyd (50). Left-hander Jack Lovett, struck an unbeaten 52 off 48 balls - with seven fours and a six - as the hosts closed on 242-7.
Arriving at the crease with Basingstoke 67-3 chasing Sarisbury’s 242-7, Oates doubled the Basingstoke score in a fourth-wicket partnership with Callum Coombs (52).
Striking three sixes and 13 fours over the tight Allotment Road boundary, he then dominated a fifth wicket stand of 97 with Brad Neal (24) and, when he became the third of four victims for Australian Ronan DeGrussa (4-31), Basingstoke were only 23 runs from their victory target.
Basingstoke had been 220-4 with Joe Oakes just three runs shy of his century. But his dismissal - caught by Cameron Grierson off the bowling of Ronan DeGrussa - was to prove a turning point.
Jordan Wright ensured nerves were jangling when he removed young Neil Shelar (8), and it was 232-7 when Bradley Neal (34) fell to Hill, again snaffled by Grierson.
DeGrussa bowled Matt Donaldson first ball and the ninth wicket went down on 236 when Hill had Rakitha Perera caught by Jack Lovett.
Amid mounting tension, only another three runs had been added when Hiil (4-41) sealed a stunning win by dismissing Jake Fincken (3). The Gosnells bowler had begun the innings by removing openers Richard Vinn and Dubs Wood, reducing them to 6-3.
Sarisbury had reached 125-1 with half-centuries for Grierson (55) and Sam Floyd (50). Left-hander Jack Lovett, struck an unbeaten 52 off 48 balls - with seven fours and a six - as the hosts closed on 242-7.
Sam Hill, match winning spell
