ASHLEY Neal smashed 15 runs off the last three balls of the match to earn Basingstoke and North Hants CC a thrilling two-wicket win over Winchester Warriors in their opening NatWest Under-16 Indoor League match at the Ageas Bowl.
Neal thumped Hampshire Under-15 captain Felix Organ for two sixes and then a match-clinching three off the last ball as the teenage Bountymen chased down a challenging Winchester total of 140-2.
Tom Foster (25), Charlie Gwynn (25) and Organ (17) under-pinned the Winchester score, which was under threat as Joe Oates (34) and Neal steered Stoke to 97-1 (Matt Deadman 15) off eight overs.
But when only 11 runs came off the next three overs, Basingstoke were in trouble.
Oates and Neal returned to the crease just in time – but, with 18 runs required off the last over, it was Neal’s final flurry that got the Bounty boys across the line.
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