BASINGSTOKE and North Hants skipper Mitch Stokes is looking for his side to bounce back to winning ways when they travel to Rowledge this weekend.

Last Saturday, Dan Belcher scored an unbeaten century, but it was all in vain as Basingstoke and North Hants suffered their first loss of the league campaign to visiting Liphook and Ripsley.

The leaders were beaten by three wickets, but as second placed Bournemouth also surrendered their 100 per cent start, the Bountymen remain top of the Southern League Division One.

Stokes said : The loss was down to poor fielding we must have dropped seven catches. We got off to a slow start and regrouped thanks to Dan (Belcher) and Scott (Dyer) and from there we should have won, but we did not take our chances.”

This weekend, middle order batsman Will Phillips returns to the line-up and Stokes said: “We now have to regroup and come back stronger this weekend.”

Against Liphook, the Basingstoke innings was built around two great partnerships between Belcher and Stokes (38) from 23 balls which added 59 for the third wicket.

Belcher and Scott Dyer then enjoyed a century partnership.

Dyer’s excellent 54 came from just 51 balls and saw him hit four fours and a single six.

In the end the Bountymen made 246-5 from their 50 overs.

Belcher finished on an excellent 109 not out, hitting 10 fours as he faced 147 balls.

The Liphook reply got off to a good start, as Ryan Covey (50) and Nicklin (31) put on 66 for the first wicket.

They were parted when Nicklin was bowled by Dave Griffiths (2-40) and then next ball Griffith’s had Giles Cover caught behind by George Metzger for a golden duck.

Suman Ganguly (50) came to the centre and along with Covey they took the score to 124-3.

Covey was the first of four wickets for Ryan Connor (4-51) and he also just missed out on a hat-trick.

However, Mainak Ray (59 not out) steered the visitors (248-7) to victory with eight balls to spare, but of course this was helped by a number of dropped catches.