NEW Milton clinched the Southern League Division One title with a 77 run victory at Hook and Newnham Basics in the top of the table clash.

The home side won the toss and decided to bat as there looked to be more in the pitch for the bowlers early on.

However, Hook failed to take early wickets as Nick Park (22) and James Haggaty (15) stood firm.

They were eventually parted thanks to a superb catch from wicketkeeper Josh Buckingham, one of three he was to take in the game, as Haggaty was dismissed by Spencer Champ.

The visitors carried on with Park and Mark House (28) taking the score past 50, before Hobday removed the other opener Park.

The main stay of the New Milton innings was captain James Pack with an unbeaten 71, which included seven fours.

It was not a flashy innings, but one which was the back bone to his side’s 210-6.

Toby Edwards late in the innings tried to increase the run rate as he hit Champ for two straight sixes, but he then was snapped up by a catch by Shane Brewer which gave Anik Devicha one of his three wickets as he only conceded 26 runs from his 10 overs.

Normally a target of 211 to win would have been no problem for Hook, but they up against a bowling attack who this season have bowled teams out for 160 or less nine times and unfortunately for the home side this proved to be the tenth.

Opener bowler George Watts (2-30) took early wickets, but it was the introduction of spinner Nick Elliott which really did the damage as he returned match winning figures of 5-20 and from 57-2 the Hook slumped to 60-6.

Top scorer Matt Love (34) and cramp ridden Josh Buckingham (16) gave the home side a glimmer of hope, before Buckingham was bowled by Nick Gargaro (2-29) and the writing was on the wall.

Love produced some fine hitting at the end including a six off Elliott into the bench seating outside the pavilion where his team mates were sitting, before they were eventually bowled out for 133.

Hook complete their league campaign with a trip to Totton and Eling and a week today they are in action in the final of the Finch Group Guy Jewell Cup.

SCOREBOARD

Hook & Newnham Basics v New Milton.

New Milton

N Park c J Buckingham b Hobday 22
J Haggaty c J Buckingham b Chanp 15
M House c Hobday b Divecha 28
J Park not out 71
B Lawes c J Buckingham b Divecha 6
T Edwards c Brewer b Divecha 35
L Beck c R Willcock b Hobday 17
D Loader not out 2
Extras 14
Total (for 6 wkts, 50 overs) 210

Fall: 1-27, 2-61, 3-106, 4-118, 5-170, 6-206.

Bowling: S Champ 10-2-45-1, S Brewer 6-0-33-0, J Hobday 8-1-44-2, B Thane 9-1-35-0, K Thomson 7-1-25-0, A Divecha 10-1-26-3.

Hook
B Thane c&b Elliott 18
K Thomson c Beck b Watts 4
J Hobday c&b Watts 14
M Buckingham c Lawes b Haggaty 11
M Love c Edwards b Elliott 34
N Willcock b Elliott 1
R Willcock b Elliott 0
J Buckingham b Gargaro 16
S Champ lbw b Gargaro 3
S Brewer c Beck b Elliott 9
A Divecha not out 4
Total (36.3 overs) 133

Fall: 1-13, 2-39, 3-57, 4-59, 5-60, 6-60, 7-91, 8-95, 9-110

Bowling: G Watts 10-1-30-2, D Loader 7-0-34-0, J Haggaty 7-2-17-1, N Elliott 8.3-5-20-5, N Gargaro 5-0-29-2.

Result: New Milton won by 77 runs.