BASINGSTOKE and North Hants cannot not afford another slip-up in their Southern Electric Premier Division One promotion campaign after they suffered a surprise loss to visiting Liphook and Ripsley last weekend.
The Bountymen were unable to overhaul Liphook’s total of 195 at May’s Bounty on Saturday, being bowled out for 174 to lose by 21 runs.
The defeat saw Basingstoke slip to third in the table as title rivals New Milton and Hook and Newnham Basics both enjoyed victories.
They have lost a game more than both of their rivals and cannot afford any more mistakes if they want to win the league and gain promotion to the Premier Division.
Last weekend, Basingstoke suffered a bad day with the bat as they bowled Liphook out for 195 but lost by 21 runs.
The visitors won the toss and elected to bat, with openers Rob Nicklin (29) and Chris Martin (31) building the foundations for the innings as they put on 48 for the first wicket.
Second pair Giles Cover (51) and free-hitting Suman Ganguly (34) helped the score to 132-3 and a big total looked on the cards, but the home bowlers hit back.
Mitch Stokes took 5-33 as the Bountymen staged a comeback with the ball, taking the last eight wickets for just 63 runs as Liphook were all out for 195 in the 46th over.
The Basingstoke reply did not get off to a good start as Craig Williamson was an early casualty. Chris Froud (26) and Steve Bucksey (19) added 44 for the second wicket, before Froud was the second man out.
Elliott Hawkins then struck twice in two balls to remove Bucksey and Chris Oliver, both trapped leg before. At 70-4, top scorer Stokes (59) and Dean Nurse (10) moved the score into three figures and when Stokes’ knock ended after 72 balls, which had included one six and seven fours, the Bountymen were on 137-6.
Martyn James (22) and Matt Thankachan (20 not out) steadied the ship and looked to have got their team within sight of a valuable victory.
However, the Bountymen’s hopes were dashed as they slumped from 164-6 to 174 all out, thanks to a run out from Sean Burton, who also took two wickets.
Hartley Wintney gave Division One leaders New Milton a fright at Fernhill, before losing by 15 runs.
The visitors looked set to take another impressive scalp as Jack Hersh (47) and Scott Baldwin (41) moved the score to 123-3, as they chased 177 for victory.
However, off-spinner Nick Elliott (3-35) and James Haggarty (3-31) ripped out the Hartley tail as the visitors were all out for 161 with still 21 balls left in their innings.
Earlier in the contest, New Milton good start thanks to openers Nick Park (50) and Mark House (28) the pair put on 78 for the first wicket.
Mark Teale produced an excellent 10 over spell which cost just 19 runs and saw him dismiss both openers.
New Milton added just 98 for their last nine wickets as Scott Baldwin (3-24) and Seb Waddington (3-38) did most of the damage.
A fine late knock from all-rounder Elliott added 29 valuable runs, which in the end proved the different between the sides.
Jordan Hobday announced his arrival back on the Premier League scene with a blistering century as Hook & Newnham Basics maintained the pressure on Division 1 leaders New Milton.
Hobday spent the first half of the season in Hook seconds as he recovered from knee surgery, but he came back with a bang hitting two sixes and 17 fours in an innings of 111 which swept Hook past a Rowledge total of 186-8.
David Lloyd hit 64 not out and Will Davies 51 for Rowledge, which Spencer Champ enhanced his position at the lead SPL1 wicket taker with a 3-20 return.
Andover chased down a Totton & Eling total of 192-8 to win by five wickets with almost ten overs to spare at London Road.
The result stabilised Andover’s position in Premier Division 1, but left Totton & Eling in the bottom two, behind Hartley Wintney.
Totton’s day began badly with openers Tom Arnold and Tom Beresford quickly removed by Eels old boy Darron Augustus (2-24), leaving New Zealander Andrew Fletcher (46) and James Taylor (51) to reboot the innings.
Taylor batted through to 157-4 and with Richard Dibden (40) saw Totton through to 192-8, Mike Adams (3-25) taking the last three wickets.
Ali Hooper (30) fired Andover to 35-1, leaving Augustus (43 not out) to share partnerships with Glyn Treagus (30) and Dave Taylor (45), which effectively sealed Totton’s fate.
Bournemouth survived a mini batting collapse to secure a four-wicket triumph over Premier Division 1 basement outfit Calmore Sports at Chapel Gate.
Calmore made a slow start with openers Mark Lavelle and Ben Johns dismissed by Mike Kitson (3-42) with only 17 runs on the board.
Kitson quickly claimed a third victim as he bowled James Rose.
Ben Perry (16) and Michael Cook restored some momentum to the visitors' effort – but sitting on 81-5, Calmore saw the remaining five wickets tumble for the gain of just 17 runs, with Kiwi prospect Josh Finnie claiming 4-25 and Andy Woodward 3-14.
Bournemouth made it to 27-1 before Kitson, Finnie and Andy Hayward were all sent back to the pavilion, leaving the Lions 27-4, Luke Johnson taking 3-30..
But a 39-run partnership between Ben Bridgen (27) and Ryan Wiltshire (24 not out) paved the way to victory for Bournemouth to leave Calmore in increasing strife at the bottom of the table.
The Bountymen were unable to overhaul Liphook’s total of 195 at May’s Bounty on Saturday, being bowled out for 174 to lose by 21 runs.
The defeat saw Basingstoke slip to third in the table as title rivals New Milton and Hook and Newnham Basics both enjoyed victories.
They have lost a game more than both of their rivals and cannot afford any more mistakes if they want to win the league and gain promotion to the Premier Division.
Last weekend, Basingstoke suffered a bad day with the bat as they bowled Liphook out for 195 but lost by 21 runs.
The visitors won the toss and elected to bat, with openers Rob Nicklin (29) and Chris Martin (31) building the foundations for the innings as they put on 48 for the first wicket.
Second pair Giles Cover (51) and free-hitting Suman Ganguly (34) helped the score to 132-3 and a big total looked on the cards, but the home bowlers hit back.
Mitch Stokes took 5-33 as the Bountymen staged a comeback with the ball, taking the last eight wickets for just 63 runs as Liphook were all out for 195 in the 46th over.
The Basingstoke reply did not get off to a good start as Craig Williamson was an early casualty. Chris Froud (26) and Steve Bucksey (19) added 44 for the second wicket, before Froud was the second man out.
Elliott Hawkins then struck twice in two balls to remove Bucksey and Chris Oliver, both trapped leg before. At 70-4, top scorer Stokes (59) and Dean Nurse (10) moved the score into three figures and when Stokes’ knock ended after 72 balls, which had included one six and seven fours, the Bountymen were on 137-6.
Martyn James (22) and Matt Thankachan (20 not out) steadied the ship and looked to have got their team within sight of a valuable victory.
However, the Bountymen’s hopes were dashed as they slumped from 164-6 to 174 all out, thanks to a run out from Sean Burton, who also took two wickets.
Hartley Wintney gave Division One leaders New Milton a fright at Fernhill, before losing by 15 runs.
The visitors looked set to take another impressive scalp as Jack Hersh (47) and Scott Baldwin (41) moved the score to 123-3, as they chased 177 for victory.
However, off-spinner Nick Elliott (3-35) and James Haggarty (3-31) ripped out the Hartley tail as the visitors were all out for 161 with still 21 balls left in their innings.
Earlier in the contest, New Milton good start thanks to openers Nick Park (50) and Mark House (28) the pair put on 78 for the first wicket.
Mark Teale produced an excellent 10 over spell which cost just 19 runs and saw him dismiss both openers.
New Milton added just 98 for their last nine wickets as Scott Baldwin (3-24) and Seb Waddington (3-38) did most of the damage.
A fine late knock from all-rounder Elliott added 29 valuable runs, which in the end proved the different between the sides.
Jordan Hobday announced his arrival back on the Premier League scene with a blistering century as Hook & Newnham Basics maintained the pressure on Division 1 leaders New Milton.
Hobday spent the first half of the season in Hook seconds as he recovered from knee surgery, but he came back with a bang hitting two sixes and 17 fours in an innings of 111 which swept Hook past a Rowledge total of 186-8.
David Lloyd hit 64 not out and Will Davies 51 for Rowledge, which Spencer Champ enhanced his position at the lead SPL1 wicket taker with a 3-20 return.
Andover chased down a Totton & Eling total of 192-8 to win by five wickets with almost ten overs to spare at London Road.
The result stabilised Andover’s position in Premier Division 1, but left Totton & Eling in the bottom two, behind Hartley Wintney.
Totton’s day began badly with openers Tom Arnold and Tom Beresford quickly removed by Eels old boy Darron Augustus (2-24), leaving New Zealander Andrew Fletcher (46) and James Taylor (51) to reboot the innings.
Taylor batted through to 157-4 and with Richard Dibden (40) saw Totton through to 192-8, Mike Adams (3-25) taking the last three wickets.
Ali Hooper (30) fired Andover to 35-1, leaving Augustus (43 not out) to share partnerships with Glyn Treagus (30) and Dave Taylor (45), which effectively sealed Totton’s fate.
Bournemouth survived a mini batting collapse to secure a four-wicket triumph over Premier Division 1 basement outfit Calmore Sports at Chapel Gate.
Calmore made a slow start with openers Mark Lavelle and Ben Johns dismissed by Mike Kitson (3-42) with only 17 runs on the board.
Kitson quickly claimed a third victim as he bowled James Rose.
Ben Perry (16) and Michael Cook restored some momentum to the visitors' effort – but sitting on 81-5, Calmore saw the remaining five wickets tumble for the gain of just 17 runs, with Kiwi prospect Josh Finnie claiming 4-25 and Andy Woodward 3-14.
Bournemouth made it to 27-1 before Kitson, Finnie and Andy Hayward were all sent back to the pavilion, leaving the Lions 27-4, Luke Johnson taking 3-30..
But a 39-run partnership between Ben Bridgen (27) and Ryan Wiltshire (24 not out) paved the way to victory for Bournemouth to leave Calmore in increasing strife at the bottom of the table.