BASINGSTOKE and North Hants opened their friendly campaign ahead of their Southern League campaign in early May, with a 101 run loss at home to Guildford.

The game at May's Bounty saw the Basingstoke debut for the Bountymen's new player/coach Dave Griffiths.

The visiting Surrey side recovered from an early loss of opener Jack Cunningham to post a very useful 233-7 from their 40 overs.

Captain Joe Pipkin top scored with 72 which saw him hit four sixes and five fours from 77 balls.

Opening bowler Martyn James finished as the chief wicket taker with 3-34 from seven overs.

A late spell from captain Dan Belcher saw him take 2-8 from one over.

There were also wickets from Joe Oates (1-83) and Will Phillips (1-31), while Griffiths and Ashley Neal missed out.

In reply, Basingstoke were soon in trouble with both openers Belcher and Richard Vinn both out for ducks.

The home side never recovered as they slumped to 38-6 with Will Phillips (19) and Dean Nurse (13) the only two batsmen in the top seven to get into double figures.

The tail end batters faired a lot better as George Metzger (16) and James (11) took the score to 81-9.

It was left to top scorer Griffiths with an unbeaten 35 and Neal (14) as Basingstoke were bowled out for 132 in the 33rd over.

This weekend, the Bountymen are in friendly action against Sunbury on Saturday and then the following day they are in National Club Championship action when Sussex Premier League Premier Division will Middleton travel to May's Bounty.