BASINGSTOKE and North Hants slipped from third to fifth in the Southern League Division One table,after they suffered a nine wicket defeat at Bournemouth.

It probably took longer to travel there and back to the Dorset town than the game took to play, as the Bountymen were bowled out for 72 in less than 27 overs and the home side took 21 overs to knock off the required runs.

Basingstoke were without Steve Bucksey, Craig Williamson and Graham Porter, so into the team came Max Harsham, Callum Coombs and Nitin Mathew.

Bournemouth won the toss and elected to bowl and Basingstoke’s miserable time with the bat continued as opener Richard Vinn was run out with just four on the board.

Matt Thankachan promoted up the order to open was the next man out with the score on 13.

It soon became 18-5 and then 28-6 after Mitch Stokes(13), the only player in the top order to get into double figures was out.

This was down to home bowler Matthew Jones who ended with figures of 5-28.

Chris Oliver batting at number seven had the longest stay at the crease his 35 ball innings being worth eight runs.

It was left to Chris Chandler (11) batting at number nine and top scorer Lawrence Benge (15) to help the side past 50 on their way to an all out total of 72.

In the Bournemouth reply, opener Andrew Haywood was the only man out as he was caught by Oliver off the bowling of Thankachan for 25.

His fellow opener Luke Matthews top scorer in the match with an unbeaten 39 as the home side cruised to victory.

Basingstoke complete their campaign with a visit from bottom side Calmore Sports on Saturday.

SCOREBOARD

Bournemouth v Basingstoke & North Hants

Basingstoke

R Vinn run out 2
M Thankachan c Wiltshire b Kidner 6
M Harsham c Matthews b Jones 4
M Stokes c Haywood b Jones 13
C Coombs b Jones 0
M James c&b Jones 0
C Oliver lbw b Jones 8
C Froud c Matthews b Kidner 0
C Chandler c Matthews b Palmer 11
L Benge c Pack b Finnie 15
N Matthew not out 0
Extras 13

Total (26.1 overs) 72

Fall: 1-4, 2-13, 3-13, 4-14, 5-18, 6-28, 7-39, 8-44, 9-59.

Bowling: D Kidner 10-3-15-2, M Jones 10-3-28-5, J Finnie 3.1-0-15-1, J Palmer 3-0-12-1.

Bournemouth

A Haywood c Oliver b Thankachan 25

L Matthews not out 3  

J Finnie not out 8

Extras 5

Total (for 1 wkt, 20.5 overs) 77

Fall: 1-63.

Bowling: M James 7-1-28-0, C Chandler 5-0-16-0, M Stokes 5-1-14-0, M Thankachan 3.5-1-19-1.

Result: Bournemouth won by nine wickets.