BASINGSTOKE and North Hants slipped from the summit of the Southern League Division One, after they were suffered a seven runs loss at Rowledge.

The home side won the toss and decided to bat and got off to a good start, thanks to openers Nick Morant (54) and Tom Gleave (18) who put on 71 for the first wicket.

However, at this point the home lost three wickets without any addition to the score.

This was after a run out from Mitch Stokes, and couple of wickets for Matt Thankachan (3-28).

Thankachan then removed opener Morant thanks to a catch from Stokes, which left Rowledge on 80-4.

Ian Metcalfe (18) and Sam Plater (51 not out) got the home side into three figures.

Chris Jolley then had Metcalfe trapped leg before and Ryan Connor picked up a couple of wickets, before Plater and Jake Wish (33 not out) with an unbeaten stand worth 60 which moved them to 195-7 from their 50 overs.

Daniel Belcher (27) and Joe Oates (13) got the visitors off to a reasonable start as by the time the pair were back in the pavilion there was 70 on the board.

Top scorer in the game, Mitch Stokes then hit 60 off 38 balls which included eight fours and two sixes.

When the skipper departed the Bountymen were on 120-3.

The visitors continued to chip away at the total thanks to George Metzger (16) and Dean Nurse (24), but from 157-4 the visitors were bowled out for 188, as only Jolley (14) made double figures in the tail.

It was disappointing loss as they finished seven runs short with seven overs still to go.

Joe Randall (3-16) and George Keeley (3-34) did most the damage with the ball Next for Basingstoke this weekend, is a home game against new leaders Bournemouth.