BASINGSTOKE and North Hants start their Southern League Division One campaign on Saturday with only one thing on their mind which is promotion into the Premier League.

Once again Mitch Stokes will lead the side and the big summer signing is former Hampshire and Kent seam bowler David Griffiths as the club's new player/coach.

Griffiths started his career with Shanklin and will make his league debut for the Bountymen and add some spice as they face another Isle of Wight side Ventnor.

Also returned to the Basingstoke fold is all rounder Scott Dyer and both will add some more depth to the middle order.

Will Phillips who finished last year's campaign with best batting average is back for a full campaign and will bolster the top order.

Looking ahead to the campaign Stokes said: "We have added some players and I think we look very strong across all the top three teams. We want to get promoted and that is all that is on our mind as we start on Saturday."

Basingstoke make only one change to the side, which beat newly promoted Andover in a friendly last Saturday, with Griffiths replacing Chris Oliver.

Last Saturday, the Bountymen won a thriller, as they beat visiting Andover by four runs, bowling them out with four balls left in the contest.

However, it did not start well in the as they were soon reeling at 17-3, before Phillips (64) and Dyer (16) stopped the rot adding 39 for the fourth wicket.

It was Phillips’ knock of 110 balls including six fours and one six, which proved to be the back bone of the home innings.

At the other end Dean Nurse hit a smart 34 from 42 balls and by the time Phillips was the sixth man out the score was on 138.

Skipper Stokes smashed a half century in 31 balls finding the boundary eight times. The run rate soared and together with George Metzger (21) they took the total to 196-7.

The tailenders added a few more runs as the home side finished on 207-9 from their 50 overs.

The visitor’s reply got off to a great start with a stand of 76 for the first wicket.

However, after this the top order failed to fire, as they found themselves 106-5 and it was left to skipper Matt Hooper with a fine unbeaten half century to get them back on track.

Andover started the final over on 197-9 needing 11 for victory.

Babu Veettil faced the first ball and sent it over the boundary rope for six.

However, bowler Scott Dyer gained revenge on his next ball, as Veettil was caught by Ryan Connor and Andover were all out for 203.

Dyer finished with 3-28, while fellow bowler Matt Thankachan also took three wickets.

In a second team game between the same sides, Basingstoke came out on top winning by seven wickets.

Andover being bowled out for 151, as Keith Harris (5-24) did most of the damage, backed up well by Ashley Neal (3-23).

Matt Deadman hit a match winning 76 and shared a third wicket stand worth 105 with Callum Coombs (32 not out), before being the last man out.

Coombs and Chris Jolley (12) completed the job as Basingstoke reached their total in 27 overs.

The Basingstoke seconds start their Southern League campaign away at Hursley Park this weekend