BASINGSTOKE and North Hants will be looking to get themselves back in the British Gas Southern League Division One title race, when they entertaining joint leaders Bournemouth at May’s Bounty.
The Bountymen surrendered top spot last weekend, after suffering back-to-back losses at lowly Rowledge and Liphook & Ripsley. This was after the side started the campaign in superb style with three straight wins.
Another defeat this weekend, will see them loss even more ground on the leaders, and with only champions being promoted their early season dreams of going up will be fading fast.
Bountymen captain Mitch Stokes said: “This is a massive game for us and we have to make sure we win it. At the moment we are unable to put together a complete game.
“Against Liphook our fielding let us down and last week it was our batting at Rowledge.”
The Bountymen will be boosted by the news top order batsman Will Phillips will be back, but opener Dan Belcher could well miss the visit of Bournemouth. Chris Jolley who came into the side last weekend will keep his place for this early season crunch game.
Bournemouth captain Chris Park is delighted to have prized asset Simon Woodruff back at his disposal after the gun all-rounder served a one-match ban. Woodruff sat out last week's victory over Liphook & Ripsley after being punished for swearing at an opponent in a match against Hook & Newnham Basics in May.
He did, though, take two wickets for Dorset in the county's opening Unicorns Championship match against Devon this week. Key opener Ben Bridgen also returns this weekend following a two-match absence.
Park said: "Simon has served his suspension, rightly or wrongly, and can’t wait to play again this weekend. Don’t get me started on the league’s disciplinary procedures!
"Ben and Simon are both big players for us. Ben was our top run scorer last year, so he is crucial at the top of the order, along with Nick Park. And Simon is a quality all-rounder, who is full of confidence after playing for Dorset."
In particular, the Lions captain wants his batsmen to deliver the complete performance that has so far eluded them in this campaign.
"Basingstoke are a good side but they’ve lost the past couple of games and will be extra-motivated to recover some points against us," said Park. "But I’m not worried about the opposition or losing points, I want us to get our own house in order first.
"To think about David Griffiths or Mitch Stokes would be to take our eye off the ball. As long as we play to our capacity and execute our plans I'm happy, even if we lose on the day. I want our batting order to all fire together and put up a big score.
"Last week was a good team performance with the ball. Now I want everyone to contribute with the bat for a big score. I’d like to see an old-fashioned one-day game where we lay the foundations at the top and build momentum through the innings."
Bournemouth: Bridgen, N Park, Matthews, C Park, Woodruff, Hurley, Jones, Wilmore, Pack, Clutterbuck, Michalowski. Article reproduced from Basingstoke Gazette/Bournemouth Echo.
The Bountymen surrendered top spot last weekend, after suffering back-to-back losses at lowly Rowledge and Liphook & Ripsley. This was after the side started the campaign in superb style with three straight wins.
Another defeat this weekend, will see them loss even more ground on the leaders, and with only champions being promoted their early season dreams of going up will be fading fast.
Bountymen captain Mitch Stokes said: “This is a massive game for us and we have to make sure we win it. At the moment we are unable to put together a complete game.
“Against Liphook our fielding let us down and last week it was our batting at Rowledge.”
The Bountymen will be boosted by the news top order batsman Will Phillips will be back, but opener Dan Belcher could well miss the visit of Bournemouth. Chris Jolley who came into the side last weekend will keep his place for this early season crunch game.
Bournemouth captain Chris Park is delighted to have prized asset Simon Woodruff back at his disposal after the gun all-rounder served a one-match ban. Woodruff sat out last week's victory over Liphook & Ripsley after being punished for swearing at an opponent in a match against Hook & Newnham Basics in May.
He did, though, take two wickets for Dorset in the county's opening Unicorns Championship match against Devon this week. Key opener Ben Bridgen also returns this weekend following a two-match absence.
Park said: "Simon has served his suspension, rightly or wrongly, and can’t wait to play again this weekend. Don’t get me started on the league’s disciplinary procedures!
"Ben and Simon are both big players for us. Ben was our top run scorer last year, so he is crucial at the top of the order, along with Nick Park. And Simon is a quality all-rounder, who is full of confidence after playing for Dorset."
In particular, the Lions captain wants his batsmen to deliver the complete performance that has so far eluded them in this campaign.
"Basingstoke are a good side but they’ve lost the past couple of games and will be extra-motivated to recover some points against us," said Park. "But I’m not worried about the opposition or losing points, I want us to get our own house in order first.
"To think about David Griffiths or Mitch Stokes would be to take our eye off the ball. As long as we play to our capacity and execute our plans I'm happy, even if we lose on the day. I want our batting order to all fire together and put up a big score.
"Last week was a good team performance with the ball. Now I want everyone to contribute with the bat for a big score. I’d like to see an old-fashioned one-day game where we lay the foundations at the top and build momentum through the innings."
Bournemouth: Bridgen, N Park, Matthews, C Park, Woodruff, Hurley, Jones, Wilmore, Pack, Clutterbuck, Michalowski. Article reproduced from Basingstoke Gazette/Bournemouth Echo.
