BASINGSTOKE and North Hants kept up the pressure on the top two as they completed a Southern League Division One double over visiting Rowledge.

Due to areas of the outfield being wet, the game did not start until 2.30pm instead of 1pm and so was reduced to a 43 overs a-side game.

Rowledge won the toss and decided to bat and Ricky Yates (18) got the innings off to a swift start until he lost his leg stump to the bowling of Graham Porter (4-28).

Ian Metcalfe hit a couple of fours, before a smart catch in the slips by Steve Bucksey saw him dismissed which gave Martyn James his only wicket of the game.

Porter struck again to bowl Chris Yates Jnr and the Bountymen looked in control at 46-3.

However, Will Davies (55) who took nine overs to score his first run and Alex Bloomfield (49) set about building a score for the visitors as they added 107 for the fourth wicket.

The pair were finally parted as Bloomfield, who hit the only six of the innings over the head of Mitch Stokes, fell to another Bucksey catch this time off the bowling of Matt Thankachan (2-31).

A very tidy four over spell from Brad Neal conceded just 11 runs and then Porter returned to trap Davies leg before.

The brakes were well and truly put on the Rowledge finished on 169-8.

Basingstoke’s reply did not get off to the best of starts with openers Chris Froud and Chris Oliver back in the pavilion with 20 on the board.

Mitch Stokes with a quick fire 47 looked in a hurry to win the contest and twice hit Chris Yates Snr (3-31) for straight sixes, before he miss queued a ball high into the air from the same bowler and was caught by Ben Wish.

Martyn James departed soon after to leave the score at 74-4 and the home side looked in trouble.

Steve Bucksey (25) and Lee Nurse (33 not out) did not panic and picked off the bad balls to keep up with the run rate and when Bucksey departed the score had reached 122.

It was left to Nurse and Brad Neal (29 not out) to complete the job with three overs to spare and Neal also helped himself to straight six down the ground off of Rowledge skipper David Lloyd.

Next for the Bountymen is a trip to Andover on Saturday.

SCORECARD

Basingstoke and North Hants v Rowledge

Rowledge

R Yates b Porter 18
W Davies lbw b Porter 55
I Metcalfe c Bucksey b James 9
C Yates (jnr) b Porter 2
A Bloomfield c Bucksey b Thankachan 49
D Lloyd b Porter 8
R Forbes run out 1
J Wish c Benge b Thankachan 1
B Wish not out 0
Extras 21
Total (for 8 wkts, 43 overs) 169

Fall: 1-21, 2-39, 3-46, 4-153, 5-159, 6-164, 7-165, 8-169.

Bowling: M James 9-3-28-1, G Porter 9-1-28-4, D King 4-0-29-0, M Stokes 9-2-32-0, M Thankachan 8-0-31-2, B Neal 4-0-11-0.

Basingstoke
C Froud c Forbes b C Yates (snr) 19
C Oliver b C Yates (snr) 1
S Bucksey c J Wish b Forbes 25
M Stokes c B Wish b C Yates (snr) 47
M James c Forbes b Kelly 0
L Nurse not out 33
B Neal not out 29
Extras 16
Total (for 5 wkts. 40.1 overs) 170

Fall: 1-19, 2-20, 3-69, 4-74, 5-122.


Bowling: C Yates (snr) 9-3-31-3, R Forbes 9-1-44-1, G Kelly 9-2-28-1, D Lloyd 5.1-1-27-0, J Wish 6-0-30-0, R Yates 1-0-8-0.

Basingstoke won by 5 wkts