BASINGSTOKE and North Hants captain Mitch Stokes is looking for his side to start to put another winning winning run together, after they snapped their recent losing win with a comfortable six wicket win over Southern League Division One leaders Bournemouth.

Last Saturday’s victory for the Bountymen, saw the Dorset side slip to third in the table with Calmore Sports taking over at the summit.

This weekend, Basingstoke travel to mid table Portsmouth.

The Bountymen will have to wait on the fitness of spin king Matt Thankachan who was injured during the Bournemouth, while opener Dan Belcher who missed last weekend’s win is back.

Captain Stokes said: “It was a big win beating Bournemouth and we did everything right, we bowled and fielded well and then put together some good partnerships. Portsmouth is never an easy place to go, but we want to keep on winning.”

It is a busy weekend for the Bountymen, as on Sunday they start their quest for T20 Cup glory when fellow Division One outfit Ventnor are the visitors.

Last Saturday, Stokes was the star of the show with an unbeaten 89, as the home side reached their winning total of 175 with 16 overs to spare.

Bournemouth won the toss and elected to bat, with opening bowler Martyn James turning in his meanest spell of the season so far.

His figures 3-13 were even more remarkable as in one ball he was hit for six and in the other 59 balls he conceded just seven runs, as he bowled six maiden overs.

Bournemouth opener Ben Bridgen was the player to hit him for six and James gained revenge as he was one of his three wickets, as the visitors struggled to 52-3.

After this, Chris Park (33) and Simon Woodruff (61) set about building some sort of score for the visitors. The pair added 57 for the fourth wicket, before Park was run out by Will Phillips in the 30th over.

Woodruff kept the scoreboard ticking and along with Jake Hurley (7), they took the score to 157-5, before Hurley was bowled by Phillips.

With only one run added, the home side removed Woodruff he was caught behind by George Metzger from Phillips (3-46).

From here Bournemouth were bowled out for 174 in the 49th over.

In Basingstoke’s reply, Chris Oliver (14), Metzger (10) and Phillips (5) were all back in the pavilion with 42 on the board after 13 overs.

At this point the game was in the balance, but Stokes and player/coach Dave Griffiths (28) set about building the platform for victory as they added 77 for the fourth wicket.

Griffiths’ 39 ball stay at the centre, which included a six and two fours, was ended by Rob Pack who trapped him leg before.

However, this was the last wicket the Bountymen lost, as Stokes and Dean Nurse (16) guided them home to a comfortable victory.

Stokes finishing unbeaten on 89 from 75 balls, which saw him hit one six and 12 fours.