BASINGSTOKE and North Hants CC are sweating on the fitness of hard-hitting middle-order batsman Dean Nurse ahead of their trip to Fawley on Saturday.

Nurse hurt his thumb during last Monday’s cup defeat to Valley End and was not fit to take to the field against Hambledon at May’s Bounty last weekend.

Basingstoke captain Chris Froud won the toss and put the visitors in to bat. It was slow progress for the visitors on a damp wicket and they were 20-0 from eight overs when the rain came and the game had to be abandoned.

Next up for the Bountymen is a Southern League Division One trip to Fawley on Saturday, and while Nurse is set to be selected, his participation remains in doubt.

Froud said: “Dean has been selected at the moment but we will see how he is towards the end of the week before we make a final decision. Hopefully, he will be fit to train and we will then see how he responds to that.”

If Nurse is unable to play, he is likely to be replaced by Craig Williamson, who was called up for the Hambledon game, with the rest of the team expected to be unchanged from the side that beat Sarisbury Athletic on the opening day of the season.

Fawley were also rained off last week, their trip to Bournemouth falling foul of the weather, and they were beaten at home by Liphook and Ripsley the week before, losing by seven wickets after being bowled out for 123.

Froud added: “We do not know much about Fawley. They have played one game and lost but we will not read too much into that, because it doesn’t mean that they are a bad side.

“Obviously, we will be looking to win the game, but we are not expecting an easy ride just because they lost on the opening day.

“Everyone is really keen to get out there this week. The weather frustrated us on Saturday, but the forecast is good and we are hoping to get a game in.”