BASINGSTOKE and North Hants seconds made sure of promotion as they beat leaders Waterlooville by seven wickets and also so nearly won the Southern League Division Three title as well.

In the end the visitors won the crown thanks to three batting bonus points and one bowling, as three points secured them top spot.

Basingstoke won the toss and put Waterlooville into bat and Chris Jolley (3-46) stuck early to remove opener James Scutt with just five on the scoreboard.

The visitors recovered as James Hortle (34) and Archie Reynolds (39) put on 65 for the second wicket.

by Rakitha Perera (4-35) got rid of the pair of them in the space of 11 runs as Waterlooville found themselves 81-4.

Alex Shepherd (39) and Jon Hudson (27) then put on 56 for the fifth wicket and from there in the end the leaders reached 191-9.

The Basingstoke innings was dominated by a fine knock of 99 from opener Scott Dyer which included 14 fours.

He shared an opening stand of 53 with Keith Harsham (19) and then Callum Coombs (17) and Dyer took the score to 79.

The biggest partnership of the game saw Dyer and Chris Oliver (48 not out) put on 110 for the third wicket.

Dyer was out just one short of a ton and three runs from victory.

Oliver, who hammered two sixes in his knock, hit the winning runs to secure victory and promotion with in 45.1 overs.