Basingstoke and North Hants look to end on a high (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Basingstoke and North Hants look to end on a high

1:00pm Thursday 6th September 2012 in Sport By Graham Merry

BASINGSTOKE and North Hants want to sign off in style by winning their final ever game in the Thames Valley League.

The Bountymen, who won the inaugural title in 1972, will play their cricket in Southern League next season, but still want to end this campaign on a high as they travel to Finchampstead.

Basingstoke are enjoying good end of season form, having chalked their third win on the trot with a four-wicket victory over Kew at May’s Bounty last Saturday.

The visitors were bowled out for 93 as Jon Bradley (6-58) did most of the damage backed up by Martyn James (3-21) and Dave Pistorius who took 1-12 off 10 balls.

After the early set back of losing openers Richard Vinn and Chris Froud cheaply, Dean Nurse scored a run a ball 20, before captain Dan Coombs (46) and Craig Williamson (18 not out) added 49 for the fourth wicket as the home side reached 91.

At that point they lost three wickets, before Williamson struck a winning boundary.

Coombs said: “Bradders (Jon Bradley) bowled the best spell he has all season and for once he got his reward with some wickets. We now will look to end the season with another win and we have really recovered things in the second half of the season.”