BASINGSTOKE and North Hants will head to local rivals Hook and Newnham Basics knowing that only a victory will keep their Southern Electric Premier Division One promotion hopes alive.
Hook are a side in form at the moment, having dished out a crushing 197-run win to Hartley Wintney last weekend – their batsmen going close to setting a new league record, writes Graham Merry of the Basingstoke Gazette.
Meanwhile at Andover, the Bountymen suffered a six-wicket defeat that leaves them 32 points behind leaders New Milton and 24 back from second-placed Hook.
There are four games left and Basingstoke will need to win them all to stand any chance of taking the title and promotion.
Adding extra spice to the game is the fact that Basingstoke have a point to prove against Hook. The Bountymen were soundly beaten at May’s Bounty when these sides met earlier in the season.
The hosts were shot out for just 50 as the pictured Spencer Champ (6-21) and Shane Brewer (4-29) took apart the batting line-up, Hook having made 202 with first use of the pitch.
Basingstoke were bowled out for 128 last weekend, but they are determined to put that behind them and get back into the title shake-up.
They are expected to go with the same side against Hook and leading bowler Martyn James said: “We had a bad day with the bat at Andover but we have a spoken about it and now have to put things right against Hook.
“We will go there trying to redeem ourselves for what happened earlier in the season and I think it will be a really good game, as it was last year at their place.”
Hook are also set to be unchanged and captain Matt Love said: “We know Basingstoke will be looking to do better than they did against us last time, but we have to keep winning to keep up the pressure on New Milton.
“We are confident, going into the game as against Hartley, we batted well and got a really big total. It was also good for the bowlers to make sure we got maximum points.”
As the title race hots up Hook’s visit from Basingstoke will be followed by a trip to Liphook and Ripsley. They then face leaders New Milton at home, with their campaign concluding away at Totton and Eling.
Meanwhile, leaders New Milton have a home game against Andover this weekend, before a double header of away games against Basingstoke and Hook.
They finish with a game at home to fourth-placed Bournemouth.
The Bountymen could get themselves back in the promotion hunt if they can beat Hook and New Milton next weekend.
Basingstoke’s penultimate game is a trip to Bournemouth, while they entertain Calmore Sports at May’s Bounty on the final day of the season.
Hook & Newnham Basics: Love, J Buckingham, Thane, Thomson, M Buckingham, R Willcock, N Willcock, Champ, Brewer, Divecha, Hobday.
Basingstoke & North Hants: from: Froud, Benge, Williamson, James, Bucksey, Stokes, Thamkachan, Chandler, Oliver, Neal, Porter, L Nurse, Pistorious.
Table topping New Milton expect to have all-rounder James Haggaty back for the potentially tricky clash with Andover at Fernhill.
But key 27-wicket left-arm bowler Nick Garago will be missing as the Green & Golds bid to maintain their seven-point lead over Hook & Newnham Basics. Dylan Augustus is absent for Andover, but Army batsman Craig Ross returns. Dave Taylor is anxious to extend his 731-run aggregate.
Andover: M Hooper, A Hooper, Arnold, Treagus, Taylor, Souter, Ross, Knight, Augustus, Adams, Foy.
Local bragging rights will be purely incidental when Calmore Sports go head-to-head against arch rivals Totton & Eling at Loperwood Park, 1pm.
The pair are both deep in relegation trouble at the foot of Southern Electric Premier Division 2, alongside troubled Hartley Wintney.
Calmore will take the field nine points behind Totton, who lie eighth in the ten-club league, having beaten the Eels at Southern Gardens earlier in the season.
Totton are without skipper Richard Dibden, but key all-rounder James Taylor is free of soccer commitments.
Teenager Oli Perrin will be in a confident mood after taking five-wickets and hitting the winning runs in last weekend’s morale boosting two-wicket win over Bournemouth.
Totton & Eling: Arnold, J Taylor, Ennew, Beresford, Metcalfe, Jenkin, Thomason, Hamid, E Taylor, Perrin, Manning.
Jamie Teale has been stripped of the captaincy of Hartley Wintney after disciplinary issues in last weekend’s 408-run mauling by Hook & Newnham Basics. He has been dropped from the HW team to play Liphook & Ripsley.
Hook are a side in form at the moment, having dished out a crushing 197-run win to Hartley Wintney last weekend – their batsmen going close to setting a new league record, writes Graham Merry of the Basingstoke Gazette.
Meanwhile at Andover, the Bountymen suffered a six-wicket defeat that leaves them 32 points behind leaders New Milton and 24 back from second-placed Hook.
There are four games left and Basingstoke will need to win them all to stand any chance of taking the title and promotion.
Adding extra spice to the game is the fact that Basingstoke have a point to prove against Hook. The Bountymen were soundly beaten at May’s Bounty when these sides met earlier in the season.
The hosts were shot out for just 50 as the pictured Spencer Champ (6-21) and Shane Brewer (4-29) took apart the batting line-up, Hook having made 202 with first use of the pitch.
Basingstoke were bowled out for 128 last weekend, but they are determined to put that behind them and get back into the title shake-up.
They are expected to go with the same side against Hook and leading bowler Martyn James said: “We had a bad day with the bat at Andover but we have a spoken about it and now have to put things right against Hook.
“We will go there trying to redeem ourselves for what happened earlier in the season and I think it will be a really good game, as it was last year at their place.”
Hook are also set to be unchanged and captain Matt Love said: “We know Basingstoke will be looking to do better than they did against us last time, but we have to keep winning to keep up the pressure on New Milton.
“We are confident, going into the game as against Hartley, we batted well and got a really big total. It was also good for the bowlers to make sure we got maximum points.”
As the title race hots up Hook’s visit from Basingstoke will be followed by a trip to Liphook and Ripsley. They then face leaders New Milton at home, with their campaign concluding away at Totton and Eling.
Meanwhile, leaders New Milton have a home game against Andover this weekend, before a double header of away games against Basingstoke and Hook.
They finish with a game at home to fourth-placed Bournemouth.
The Bountymen could get themselves back in the promotion hunt if they can beat Hook and New Milton next weekend.
Basingstoke’s penultimate game is a trip to Bournemouth, while they entertain Calmore Sports at May’s Bounty on the final day of the season.
Hook & Newnham Basics: Love, J Buckingham, Thane, Thomson, M Buckingham, R Willcock, N Willcock, Champ, Brewer, Divecha, Hobday.
Basingstoke & North Hants: from: Froud, Benge, Williamson, James, Bucksey, Stokes, Thamkachan, Chandler, Oliver, Neal, Porter, L Nurse, Pistorious.
Table topping New Milton expect to have all-rounder James Haggaty back for the potentially tricky clash with Andover at Fernhill.
But key 27-wicket left-arm bowler Nick Garago will be missing as the Green & Golds bid to maintain their seven-point lead over Hook & Newnham Basics. Dylan Augustus is absent for Andover, but Army batsman Craig Ross returns. Dave Taylor is anxious to extend his 731-run aggregate.
Andover: M Hooper, A Hooper, Arnold, Treagus, Taylor, Souter, Ross, Knight, Augustus, Adams, Foy.
Local bragging rights will be purely incidental when Calmore Sports go head-to-head against arch rivals Totton & Eling at Loperwood Park, 1pm.
The pair are both deep in relegation trouble at the foot of Southern Electric Premier Division 2, alongside troubled Hartley Wintney.
Calmore will take the field nine points behind Totton, who lie eighth in the ten-club league, having beaten the Eels at Southern Gardens earlier in the season.
Totton are without skipper Richard Dibden, but key all-rounder James Taylor is free of soccer commitments.
Teenager Oli Perrin will be in a confident mood after taking five-wickets and hitting the winning runs in last weekend’s morale boosting two-wicket win over Bournemouth.
Totton & Eling: Arnold, J Taylor, Ennew, Beresford, Metcalfe, Jenkin, Thomason, Hamid, E Taylor, Perrin, Manning.
Jamie Teale has been stripped of the captaincy of Hartley Wintney after disciplinary issues in last weekend’s 408-run mauling by Hook & Newnham Basics. He has been dropped from the HW team to play Liphook & Ripsley.