A DEVESTATING spell of spin bowling from Matt Thankachan helped Basingstoke and North Hants back to winning ways in Southern League Division One on Saturday.

The off-spinner finished with figures of 7-6 from 7.3 overs as Calmore Sports were dismissed for 125 chasing visiting Basingstoke's modest total of 202-9.

The Bountymen had failed to defend a similar total at home to Bournemouth the previous week and struggling Calmore were on course for victory at one stage, reaching 102-3.

However, Thankachan had other ideas, taking the remaining seven wickets as the hosts collapsed in spectacular fashion, eventually losing by 77 runs.

Basingstoke's troubles with the bat continued as they were restricted to 202-9 from their 50 overs, having won the toss.

Captain Chris Froud and Craig Williamson put on 41 for the first wicket before becoming the first of several partnerships to come to an end just as it seemed to be getting going.

Plenty of batsmen got starts, with five reaching 20, but the highest scorer was number nine Chris Chandler, who made 38 from 20 balls and put on 65 for the eighth wicket with Bradley Neal (31).

The Bountymen had looked in serious trouble at 131-7, but Chandler and Neal's partnership ensured that they batted out their overs and set a target over 200.

Calmore made a positive start with the bat, their opening par reaching 38 before captain Mark Lavelle was run out for 25.

A couple more wickets fell soon after, but Darren Vann (22) and James Rose (19) put on 40 for the fourth wicket to get their side past 100.

Just as it looked like the hosts were getting on top, Vann and Rose fell in quick succession, becoming Thankachan's first two victims with the score on 102.

Only one of the remaining batsman reached double figures as Thankachan took a grip on the game, with Calmore losing their last seven wickets for just 23 runs.

With title rivals Hook and Newnham Basics and New Milton also winning, it was an important victory for Basingstoke, who remain third in the standings but in touch with the top two.

SCORECARD

Basingstoke and North Hants
C Froud b Croft 24
C Williamson st Vann b Wright 9
S Bucksey c&b Rose 23
M Stokes c Lavelle b Rose 27
C Oliver lbw b Lavelle 14
M James c Holloway b West 13
M Thankachan b West 3
B Neal c Croft b Lavelle 31
C Chandler b West 38
L Benge not out 2
R Perera not out 3
Extras 17
Total (for 9 wickets, 50 overs) 202

Fall: 1-41, 2-43, 3-85, 4-109, 5-109, 6-112, 7-131, 8-196, 9-198

Bowling: P Proudley 5-1-25-0, S Wright 10-1-39-1, D Croft 7-2-25-1, J Rose 10-2-16-2, M Lavelle 10-2-44-2, M West 8-0-48-3

Calmore Sports
M Lavelle run out (Neal) 25
B Johns b Stokes 11
M Taylor lbw b James 12
J Rose b Thankachan 19
D Vann c Froud b Thankachan 22
C Holloway c&b Thankachan 1
T Peglar c Froud b Thankachan 14
M West c James b Thankachan 1
P Proudley lbw b Thankachan 0
S Wright c Williamson b Thankachan 0
D Croft not out 1
Extras 17
Total (all out, 39.3 overs) 125

Fall: 1-38, 2-54, 3-62, 4-102, 5-102, 6-103, 7-107, 8-109, 9-114

Bowling: M James 8-3-12-1, C Chandler 10-0-40-0, M Stokes 7-0-22-1, R Perera 7-0-41-0, M Thankachan 7.3-3-6-7

RESULT: Calmore Sports (5 points) lost to Basingstoke and North Hants (21) by 77 runs