![Picture](/uploads/4/8/0/1/48017493/published/neil-shelar-2.jpg?1685308599)
Basingstoke & North Hants are off to a winning start in Southern Premier Division 1 – their 78-run victory over Ventnor owing much to eighth-wicket pair Neil Shelar and Matt Donaldson, who hauled the Bountymen out of a batting mire.
Basingstoke were struggling at 104-7 when they came together, but 85 runs later the side had a match winning 221-8 on the May’s Bounty scoreboard.
Aarav Garg and skipper Joe Oates later shared seven wickets to bowl Ventnor out for 147.
“This was a perfect start for us, but so much was down to Neil and Matt, who batted responsibly at a crucial stage of the game,” Oates said.
“It’s always important to win your first match. This is going to be a very competitive league with arguably six sides capable of winning it – and beating each other along the way.
“I’d like to think Basingstoke will be in the mix, but we need to win at Hambledon this Saturday to maintain momentum.”
Although Ash Neal (30) and Oates (25) made decent starts, Basingstoke found the going tough after being put into bat and lost wickets all along the way.
But teenager Shelar, pictured, with an SPL best 59 not out, and Donaldson (40) turned the tide dramatically with what proved a match changing partnership.
Two early blows by Oates (4-25) immediately put Ventnor on the back foot, but Sri Lankan Dineth Thimodya (31) and Martin Blackman (25) remained a massive threat – until Dubs Wood (2-27) removed them both.
Equally important was the dismissal of Tom Friend (13), who has re-joined Ventnor from Bashley (Rydal), as Ventnor lost four wickets for 15 runs, debutant Aarav Garg (3-25) breaking through.
Ben Attrill (25) rallied but the damage was done and Ventnor, despite a late recovery, were dismissed for 147.
Basingstoke were struggling at 104-7 when they came together, but 85 runs later the side had a match winning 221-8 on the May’s Bounty scoreboard.
Aarav Garg and skipper Joe Oates later shared seven wickets to bowl Ventnor out for 147.
“This was a perfect start for us, but so much was down to Neil and Matt, who batted responsibly at a crucial stage of the game,” Oates said.
“It’s always important to win your first match. This is going to be a very competitive league with arguably six sides capable of winning it – and beating each other along the way.
“I’d like to think Basingstoke will be in the mix, but we need to win at Hambledon this Saturday to maintain momentum.”
Although Ash Neal (30) and Oates (25) made decent starts, Basingstoke found the going tough after being put into bat and lost wickets all along the way.
But teenager Shelar, pictured, with an SPL best 59 not out, and Donaldson (40) turned the tide dramatically with what proved a match changing partnership.
Two early blows by Oates (4-25) immediately put Ventnor on the back foot, but Sri Lankan Dineth Thimodya (31) and Martin Blackman (25) remained a massive threat – until Dubs Wood (2-27) removed them both.
Equally important was the dismissal of Tom Friend (13), who has re-joined Ventnor from Bashley (Rydal), as Ventnor lost four wickets for 15 runs, debutant Aarav Garg (3-25) breaking through.
Ben Attrill (25) rallied but the damage was done and Ventnor, despite a late recovery, were dismissed for 147.