BASINGSTOKE and North Hants face their toughest test yet this weekend, as they travel to Southern League Premier Division leaders South Wilts.

The Bountymen will travel to Bemerton looking to build on an excellent five wicket success at Alton.

There are two changes to the side, which won at the Jubilee Playing Fields.

Bradley Neal comes in for top order batsman Dan Belcher and there is also a change in the spin department as experienced Matt Thankachan replaces Ashley Neal.

Looking ahead to the clash, Basingstoke last one of the opening half of the season, captain Mitch Stokes said: "We know it is going to be a tough game, but if we can bat well we have a chance in any game."

Last Saturday, Ben Thane hit his maiden century for Basingstoke since signing from Hook at the beginning of the summer and helped them to a five wicket victory at Alton.

The Bountymen were set the target of 241 to win and reached it thanks to a superb unbeaten 121 from Thane.

The game started with the home side winning the toss and electing to bat, but they were soon in trouble as Marco Marais and Alex Hammond were both dismissed by Martyn James (2-25) for golden ducks.

From here Alton dug in and Michael Heffernan (56) and Daniel Harris (53) put on 98 for the third wicket, before Mitch Stokes (2-36) bowled Harris.

Heffernan was then dismissed by Ashley Neal (2-41) with the score on 140, but from then the Alton innings was under pinned by a fine unbeaten 91 from Scott Myers.

This helped them to a score of 240-8, as Thane (2-44) took late wickets.

The Basingstoke reply was built around Thane’s super knock and he put on 55 with Chris Froud (6) for the first wicket and then 44 with Dan Belcher (21).

The partnerships continued to flow with Thane well supported by Stokes (31) and then along with David Griffiths (26) they finished the game off with an unbroken stand of 57, as the Bountymen won by five wickets.

Thane carried his bat and his 121, which saw him hit 13 fours in his 186-ball stay at the centre.

Talking about the victory, Stokes said: "We got off to a good start getting them 0-2 and one of them was their overseas. We missed a couple of catches, one when Scott Myers was on 60 and he made 30 more.

He added: "I think batting wise the innings was built around Ben Thane and as long as he did not get out I always felt we would win the game.

"We had a number of good partnerships which in the end saw us home."