SPARSHOLT made the recovery of the day in the Southern League, as they won their Division Two clash at May’s Bounty, against Basingstoke and North Hants’ second XI, by 46 runs.

The visitors having been put into bat found themselves 0-3 and 4-4, as Chris Chandler and Greg Donaldson took two wickets each.

Chandler (3-35) struck again to make it 32-5, but from there Nick Doubell (48) and former Hook and Newnham Basics’ teenager Liam Doran (64) set about building a target to defend.

In the end, Sparsholt were all out for 173, with Donaldson (4-32) returning to remove both Doubell and Doran.

The Basingstoke reply got off to a steady start, thanks to top scorer opener Chris Jolley (36).

However, other than Scott Dyer (18), Greg Donaldson (16) no one else got above 15, as the Bountymen were dismissed for 127 in 33.3 overs.

Sparsholt captain Jeremy Frith (3-23) and Doran (4-23) did most of the damage as the leaders remained top.

This Saturday, the seconds are at home again with another tough game against second placed Waterlooville.