BASINGSTOKE and North Hants will look to maintain their perfect start to the Southern League Division One campaign when they entertain Andover at May’s Bounty on Saturday.

The Bountymen reeled off their most impressive victory over the season so far last weekend, winning by 150 runs at Rowledge.

The win keeps Basingstoke third in the table, three points behind new leaders New Milton.

Meanwhile, Andover have not had the best start to the campaign, winning just one of their first four games.

Last weekend they lost to visiting Hook and Newnham Basics despite posting an impressive looking 269-5. Dave Taylor scored an unbeaten 115, his second century of the season.

Basingstoke captain Chris Froud has a full squad to pick from as batsman Chris Oliver and all-rounder Patrick Joseph are available again after missing the trip to Rowledge.

However, Dean Nurse scored 81 on his return to the first team and is set to keep his place in the line-up.

Froud said: “I have some tough decisions to make and Dean took his chance well, so he deserves to stay in the team.

“We know Andover have some very good players so we are not going to take anything for granted.

“We want to keep winning to maintain the pressure on the top two.”

On Sunday, Basingstoke will be in National Cup action with a tough trip to Havant.

They are the current Premier Division leaders and the sides have met many times in this competition, with the south Hampshire outfit normally coming out on top.

Looking ahead to Sunday, Froud said: “This is going to be a real test for us and at the moment I am not sure how strong we are going to be.”

Basingstoke go into this weekend on the back of their best win of the season against Rowledge who were beaten comfortably.

Having won the toss, Froud decided to bat on a tricky wicket and the visitors looked in trouble at 20-2.

It was left to Mitch Stokes and Dean Nurse to dig in before opening the blades to share a third-wicket stand worth 207 runs.

Opener Mitch Stokes led the way with a 117-ball 139 that included 16 fours and five sixes.

He was backed up by an excellent 81 from Nurse, who hit two maximums and 12 fours in his 89-ball innings.

Martyn James added a run-a-ball 32 as Basingstoke recorded 286-8, their biggest score of the season so far.

In reply, Rowledge were soon in trouble as opening bowlers James (4-12) and Graham Porter (3-35) reduced them to 11-4.

Stokes (3-20) completed a great day, by taking out some of the lower order as Rowledge were bowled out for 136.

Looking back on the game, Basingstoke skipper Froud said: “Looking at the wicket, I felt a score of 150 to 175 would be enough.

“It was difficult early on, but Mitch (Stokes) and Dean (Nurse) stuck there until they could start scoring freely.

“I felt the pitch was perfect for Martyn James and that proved to be the case. We had them 47-7 and by then we were in control of the game.

“It has to be our best win of the season so far.”