HARTLEY Wintney moved off the bottom of the Southern League Division Two after a thrilling 11 run victory in the basement battle with visiting Bashley II.

The visitors won the toss and elected to put the home side into bat on an overcast afternoon.

Hartley got off to solid start thanks to openers Matt Kerr (20) and Tom Garwood (25).

They saw off the new ball as the home side reached 35-0, but nine runs later the pair were parted, as Garwood was caught behind by Chris Gates.

With the score on 60, Kerr was the second man to be dismissed, stumped by Gates, which gave Ryan Macciocchi (2-41) his first wicket.

His departure saw captain Danny Plume (68) joined at the centre by Scott Baldwin (71) and together they added 109 for the third wicket.

Baldwin hit four sixes, before he was caught by Chris Vaughan, which gave Neal Taylor (2-64) his first wicket.

Jack Hersh was the fifth Hartley man in and along with Plume they took the score past 200.

Plume twice hit Macciocchi for sixes, but the Bashley bowler gained revenge with a neat caught and bowled to dismiss him.

At this point, Hersh took up the mantle, with an excellent unbeaten 60 and along with James Beckwith (15) and Chris Saville (25 not out), they added valuable runs in the final overs, as Hartley posted 298-6.

The visitors reply was built around a superb 118 not out from opener Simon Ridley.

He along with Ryan Taylor (21) made a solid start, before Beckwith up rooted Taylor’s leg stump.

Bashley continued to score behind the run rate until the middle of their innings, when Ridley and Chris Vaughan (71) started to take the attack to the home side.

The return of opening bowler Chris Saville (2-69) proved a master stroke from captain Plume, as he removed Vaughan caught on the boundary by Baldwin.

This ended a second wicket partnership worth 113 and from then on Hartley chipped away at the other end to Ridley.

Phil Morris (4) was the next to go, thanks to Tom Garwood (2-64) Next to get amongst the wickets was Baldwin (3-35), as Bashley found themselves 210-6.

With the run rate climbing to around 10 an over and with three wickets left the visitors did not give up.

Ridley and Macciochi did their best to keep the visitors in touch, but by the last over they needed 23 for victory.

Saville returned for the last six balls and bowled Macciochi and this ended Bashley’s hopes as they finished on 287-9.

A delighted Hartley skipper Plume said: “It is great to finally get over the line and it is great feeling to get a win.”

Hartley’s next game is away at Fawley next weekend.