BASINGSTOKE and North Hants lost ground on leaders Calmore Sports as they lost by three wickets at Ventnor in the Southern League Division One.
Put into bat in their first ever visit to Newclose, the visitors suffered the early setbacks of losing Max Harsham (16) and a rare failure from skipper Mitch Stokes, out for a duck, left them 32-2.
Chris Froud (11) and opener Dan Belcher (38) helped the score to 74-4, before the sides best partnership of the game.
This was from Bradley Neal (43) and David Griffiths (52), as they added just shy of a century to the score.
However, at this point Schaughn van Greunen (3-33) and Adam Wilson (4-29) got amongst the wickets, as the visitors slumped from 183-5 to 187 all out.
The home side then looked to be cruising to victory as top three James Cheek (68), Ben Duggan (40) and van Greunen (50 not out) got them into three figures.
Spin king Matt Thankachan (4-46) then set up a nervous finish, as the home side went from 134-2 to 169-7.
It was left to van Grueuen and Ron Snell (six not out) to see Ventnor home.
Today, Basingstoke face Bashley in a T20 Cup game and then next weekend, they travel to leaders Calmore Sports.
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