AFTER two straight defeats the only way is up for Basingstoke and North Hants in Thames Valley League division one when they entertain Marlow at May’s Bounty on Saturday.

Last weekend, the Bountymen were bowled out for 83 as they tried to reach 182 for victory at Wokingham.

This was despite a brilliant spell of bowling from their top seamer Martyn James (7-67).

The loss leaves them bottom of the pile and the side will be eager to move up the table as they face their newly promoted rivals.

Marlow themselves have yet to win this season, but did play out a high scoring draw against Finchampstead last weekend, as they tried to chase down 340 for victory and finished on 275-9.

Captain Dan Coombs said: “This is already a big game against Marlow and at the moment we are struggling with the bat, so I am going to open this week.

“We can keep making excuses about our batting and not having time out in the centre, but we have played enough cricket now and we have to start scoring runs to give our bowlers something to bowl at.”

Basingstoke will wait on the fitness of Jonathan Bradley for the game against Marlow, while fellow bowler Ryan Connor is unavailable.

Coombs has yet to make a decision whether to replace Connor with another batsman instead of a bowler.

Last Sunday, and not for the first time in the Basingstoke’s history, they were knocked-out of the National Cup by Hampshire rivals Havant.

The visitors won the toss and decided to bat, but the innings never really got going, with Andy Giles (27) top scoring as they reached 124-9 in their 45 overs.

Basingstoke’s James and Bradley took early wickets, but an unbroken third wicket stand between Peter Hopson and Jeremy Bulled saw the Southern League division one side win the tie.

Talking after the game, Coombs said: “They bowled very tight and never let us got going with the bat. We knew we had a chance if we took early wickets, which we did, but they then got away from us.”