Basingstoke & North Hants will play under their third different captain this season when all-rounder Joe Oates leads them into field at May’s Bounty against local Southern Premier Division 1 rivals Alton on Saturday, 12.30.

Oates [pictured] takes the armband from the influential Ash Neal, who has gone travelling after recently completing his business degree studies at Bournemouth University, writes Mike Vimpany.

Neal, who took over when Dan Belcher quit after Basingstoke’s poor start, scored 203 runs in addition to taking nine wickets this season, leading the Bountymen to victory on four occasions.

Ironically, he bagged a first baller in his final match in charge as Basingstoke collapsed from 70 without loss to 84-6 against 2021 national Village Cup winners Calmore Sports.

Seven wickets fell for 14 runs after openers Dubs Wood (35) and Richard Vinn 27) had put on 70. They departed in quick succession, with Neal hastily following them back to the Loperwood Park pavilion.

Off-spinner Liam Carty (4-41) cut through the Basingstoke batting – the side sinking deeper into the mire at 105-7 when Greg Donaldson (44) and Mat Thankachan (34) added 69 to at least give the visitors a relatively competitive 174 run total.

But Basingstoke made Calmore fight every inch of the way for their four-wicket victory, taking the game to the third ball of the final over before waving the white flag.

Wood took 3-41, Brad Neal 2-27 and Ash Neal 1-28 as Calmore collapsed themselves from 90-1 to 131-5.

Calmore’s victory owed almost everything to left-hander Ben Johns, man of the match in last season’s Village Cup final at Lord’s, who carried his bat to make an outstanding 105 not out as the hosts got home at 175-6.

Basingstoke seconds had their Division 3 match against South Wilts II abandoned through heavy rain shortly after tea.

Harith Jayakody was agonizingly 95 not out as Basingstoke were dismissed for 206. South Wilts were 14-0 when the heavens opened.