BASINGSTOKE and North Hants moved themselves right back into the promotion shake-up of the Southern League Division One, after crushing visiting local rivals Hook and Newnham Basics.

The Bountymen’s opening bowlers Martyn James and David Griffiths were in awesome form, as they reduced the visitors 16-8, as thoughts of a sixth straight win for Hook vanished.

Former Hampshire and Kent seamer Griffiths collected his second consecutive five wicket haul of the season, while at the other end, James bowled one of the meanest 10 over spells in Southern League history.

His first seven overs were all maidens and then Rhodes Franklin edged him for a four, which was one of only three scoring strokes he conceded in amazing figures of 10-7-8-3.

Basingstoke skipper Mitch Stokes won the toss and elected to bowl. Straight away Hook found runs hard to come by, against James and Griffiths.

Welshman Griffiths (5-23) was the first to strike, as he removed Josh Buckingham for a duck thanks to a catch from Dean Nurse.

It soon became 1-2 as the Basingstoke bowler struck again in his next over, bowling Matt Love also for no score.

Hook skipper Ben Thane was then the third man, also without scoring, as Will Phillips took a catch for Griffiths’ second wicket in the sixth over.

The visitors then slid to 5-4, as Dan Belcher caught Matt Buckingham (3) which gave James his first wicket of the game.

Richard Willcock (2) was the fifth man out caught and bowled by James.

The score then became 6-6 as Griffiths bowled Liam Doran without scoring.

The best stand of the game so far, saw Hook add eight for the seventh wicket, thanks to Rhodes Franklin (5) and Shane Brewer (2).

Franklin’s innings was ended by another catch by Belcher, for James’ third wicket of the game.

Brewer was then bowled by Griffiths for his fifth scalp to leave Hook on 16-8.

Rupert Armstrong and Anik Divecha then took on the home attack and added 24 for the ninth wicket.

Divecha’s 20 ball stay, which saw him hit two fours and Ryan Connor for a six, was ended when he was caught by Joe Oates, which gave Stokes (2-14) his first wicket.

Armstrong and Kevin Poulter took the score to 53, before Poulter was trapped leg before, to end Hook’s innings in the 25th over.

Armstrong was left unbeaten on 19, from 21 balls which saw him hit two boundaries.

Basingstoke’s reply reached 12, before opener Dan Belcher (11) departed, as he was caught by Matt Buckingham for a Divecha wicket.

Basingstoke skipper Stokes (29) and Max Harsham (9 not out) moved the home side right to within sight of the finish line.

Then the captain skied a ball from Thane and Divecha caught it to make it 51-2 This ended Stokes’ 16-ball stay at the centre, in which he hit six fours, so it was left to Phillips and Harsham to complete the win inside nine overs.

The victory saw them close the gap on leaders Calmore Sports, to just five points, after the top side lost at Portsmouth, while Hook slipped to third.

This weekend, Basingstoke travel to Ventnor, while Hook entertain Calmore.

Hook return to May’s Bounty on Monday, guaranteed of a win this time as the A and B teams clash in a second round Finch Group Guy Jewell Cup game.