BASINGSTOKE and North Hants gave Southern League Division One leaders New Milton a fright before losing by three wickets at May’s Bounty.

The visitors won the toss and elected to bowl and once again the top order of the Basingstoke line-up crumbled as Chris Froud, Richard Vinn, Steve Bucksey and Craig Williamson were back in the pavilion with just 42 on the scoreboard.

Top scorer in the match, Mitch Stokes (47) hit the only six of the innings and also six fours in his 57-ball innings and along with Martyn James (20) they added 52 for the fifth wicket.

New Milton bowler Nick Elliott (3-38) removed both Stokes and James, before also taking a caught and bowled to dismiss Matt Thankachan which left the home side on 116-7.

Chris Oliver back in the side this week was left not out on 16 at the end, as Dan Loader (4-21) return to the New Milton attack as Basingstoke were all out for 135 in 42 overs.

New Milton openers Nick Park (29) and James Haggarty (23) got the visitors reply off to a good start as they reached 46 without loss.

James (2-35) removed both of them and in the space of nine runs, but New Milton still looked to be cruising as they reached 103-4.

Graham Porter (3-25) and Chris Chandler (1-20) then got amongst the wickets and suddenly the visitors were reeling on 108-7.

It was left to Dan Loader (17) and Nick Elliott (13) to see the side home with an unbroken stand worth 30 runs as New Milton won with two overs to spare.

Basingstoke travel to Bournemouth on Saturday, looking to make sure of third spot in the table.

SCORECARD

Basingstoke & North Hants v New Milton

Basingstoke

C Froud b Wattts 1
R Vinn c Beck b Loader 9
S Bucksey b Loader 4
M Stokes b Elliott 47
C Williamson b Haggarty 2
M James c J Park b Elliott 20
C Oliver not out 16
M Thankachan c&b Elliott 0
C Chandler c Elliott b Lawes 2
L Benge c Lawes b Loader 7
G Porter b Loader 4
Extras 23
Total (42 overs) 135

Fall: 1-11, 2-16, 3-25, 4-42, 5-94, 6-116, 7-116, 8-119, 9-128.

Bowling: G Watts 10-5-18-1, D Loader 9-1-21-4, J Haggarty 6-0-16-1, N Elliott 10-2-38-3, N Gargaro 6-0-29-0, B Lawes 1-0-4-1.

New Milton
N Park c Benge b James 29
J Haggarty lbw b James 23
B Lawes b Stokes 0
R Beck c Benge b Porter 5
J Park c Williamson b Porter 14
T Edwards c Benge b Porter 13
L Beck b Chandler 5
D Loader not out 17
N Elliott not out 13
Extras 19
Total (for 7 wkts, 48 overs) 138

Fall: 1-46, 2-55, 3-61, 4-74, 5-103, 6-104, 7-108.

Bowling: M James 10-2-35-2, G Porter 10-4-25-3, M Stokes 10-3-24-1, C Chandler 10-4-20-1, M Thankachan 4-0-13-0, C Froud 2-0-6-0, C Williamson 2-0-11-0.

Result: New Milton won by three wickets.