Bountymen have it all to play for in last game (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Basingstoke and North Hants have title in sights

1:00pm Thursday 1st September 2011 in Cricket By Graham Merry

BASINGSTOKE and North Hants go into the final weekend of their Thames Valley League Division One campaign just three points behind leaders Cove with everything to play for.

The Bountymen entertain Amersham looking to do the double on the Buckinghamshire side, while Cove face a visit from local rivals Finchampstead.

With 25 points for a win batting first and only 20 available batting second, the toss in both games could have a big say in which of the north Hampshire sides picks up the title.

Basingstoke know their best chance to take the title will be to bat first and win and that is exactly what they did earlier in the season against Amersham winning by 19 runs.

In that game in early July, captain Russell Droy (57) and Dan Coombs (40) were the top scorers in the Bountymen's 219-9, while the home side were bowled out for 200 as Martyn James, who passed 50 wickets for the season last weekend, and Matt King took four wickets each.

A repeat performance would do very nicely and Droy could well have the likes of Adam Rouse and King back for the final weekend showdown.

Having been on the tails of Cove all season it would be a great achievement if they are able to pip them for the title at the final furlong.

Talking ahead of the game, Captain Droy said: “It all comes down to the last game, which is a situation must of the team have never been in before, but in recent weeks we have kept winning when we needed to and I would back us to do that again against Amersham.

“The toss could prove vital and realisticly I would think we would need to win the game with 25 points, but if that does not happen we have to get as many points as we can as I know Finch (Finchampstead) are not going to make it easy for Cove.”

A title win on Saturday should set the team up very nicely for their trip to Sutton on Monday for the final of the Bertie Joel Cup against Cambridge Granta, which would complete an amazing treble for the side who have already won the Don Lynch Aylward Cup.