SIBONELO Makhanya hit his maiden century for Basingstoke and North Hants, but it was all in vain as the Bountymen lost at leaders South Wilts by 70 runs.

Visiting skipper Mitch Stokes won the toss and put the home side into bat, they got off to a good start thanks to Jack Mynott (68) and Tom Norton (45), who shared an opening stand of 84.

Norton was the first man out bowled by Stokes (3-74). This brought Tom Cowley to the centre and along with Mynott, the pair guided the total to 138-1 at lunch.

They were quickly parted after the interval, as Stokes struck again trapping Cowley leg before and the Basingstoke captain also then removed Mynott to make it 153-3.

Any chance that this would signal a collapse, were soon dashed by James Hayward (84) and Will Wade (21) as they added 85 for the fourth wicket and in the end South Wilts declared on 290-6 from 60.5 overs.

This left the Bountymen needing 291 from 60 overs to win and South Wilts opening bowlers Ryan Murray from Old Basing (6-1-8-0) and Luke Evans (7-2-13-1) made sure they were soon behind the run rate.

As the visitors reached 100-2, they lost last week’s century hero Ben Thane for 53 and then with only 27 runs added, Toby Albert and Stokes were both back in the pavilion.

South African Makhanya tried to keep the innings ticking over, but Evans who returned for a second spell, kept taking wickets as he finished with 5-42.

Apart from Thane and Makhanya, only Max Harsham (14) and Lawrence Benge (10) made it into double figures as Basingstoke were bowled out for 220 with eight balls left of their innings.

Makhanya finished unbeaten on 111, which came from 91 balls and included 13 fours and one six.

This Saturday, Basingstoke are at home to bottom side New Milton.

Elsewhere yesterday in the Premier Division, Basingstoke’s George Metzger scored 74 as he helped Hampshire Academy to 333-3, in their 164-run win over New Milton. The wicket keeper then took two catches.