MARTYN James wrecked Weybridge with a stunning seven wicket mid-innings spell to set up a victory for Basingstoke & North Hants in the opening Serious Cricket sponsored ‘white ball’ challenge match at May’s Bounty.
The Surrey Championship side got off to a 59-run flier through Jordan McKinlay (34) and Harry Samuels (25), but once the openers were parted Weybridge suffered an amazing collapse.
Samuels and McKinlay both departed at 59 as James, nipping the ball about off the damp pitch, began to tear the innings to shreds.
Weybridge lost a third at 63, four more wickets with the score on 70 and by the end of James’s stint, were reeling at 77-8.
The Basingstoke all-rounder finished with figures of 7-30 off eight overs, stand-in gloveman Chris Jolly claiming four victims.
Tailender James Cunningham (28) lifted Weybridge to 104 all out, David Griffiths (2-18) taking the last two wickets.
Joe Belcher (27) and Ethan Hawkes gave Basingstoke a sound start.
The reply suffered a wobble at 42-3, but Jolly smacked two sixes in a quick fire 40 not out off 25 balls to give Basingstoke a six-wicket win – just as the rains came !
Basingstoke’s next Serious Cricket Challenge match is against Finchampstead at May’s Bounty this Sunday (1pm).
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