Keep the good days coming (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Keep the good days coming

2:36pm Thursday 15th May 2008 in Sport By Graham Merry

WINNING is a habit that Basingstoke and North Hants would like to keep going as they face their biggest weekend of the season so far.

Hot on the heels of their opening Home Counties League division two west victory at Burnham, Mitch Stokes' side entertain Farnham Royal on Saturday.

The following day, the May's Bounty side travel to Totton and Eling in the second round of the National Cup.

After the first weekend of division two west, three sides have maximum points and two of them go head-to-head at Basingstoke.

The game will see Indian pace-man Thiru Kumaran and opening bat Kevin Latouf make their home debuts.

With confidence high, back in the squad are all-rounder Jon Govett and middle-order batsman Darren Rouse, who missed last Saturday's game as he was on duty as 12th man for the England Lions at the Rose Bowl.

Captain Stokes said: "This is our first home league game and it would be great to start with a win.

"I know Kenny (Kumaran) and Kevin (Latouf) are really looking forward to the game.

"With everyone available, some people will miss out, but it is good that we have competition for places."

On Sunday, Basingstoke travel south to face one of the top teams in the Southern League, who were formally known as BAT Sports.

Stokes, who played for Hampshire Academy against them many times, said: "They are a very good side, with a good bowling attack, and I expect it to be a very good contest."

The second team completed a club double by beating Burnham II at May's Bounty on Saturday.

A fine 84 from opener Ben Foxley steered the home side to a two-wicket victory in their opening Thames Valley division 2A game.

Earlier, the visitors decided to bat and were bowled out for 220, with Mathew Thankachan (3-38) and Karthik Srininasa (3-29) doing most damage, while Jon Bradley took two excellent catches.

In reply, Foxley and skipper Andy Giles (29) shared a second-wicket partnership of 99.

Thankachan completed a good all-round performance with 55 and, when he was the seventh man out, Basingstoke were eight short of their target.

Basingstoke V also got off to a winning start in division 8A with a five-wicket victory at Wokingham IV.

Frank Bonsey (5-45) helped bowl out the home side for 147. Then Graham Goddard led the reply with an unbeaten 39.