BASINGSTOKE and North Hants lost their opening game of the season, a friendly at Sudbury by 81 runs.

After the visitors won the toss and put the home side into bat openers Mesome Hussain (36) and Sam Burgess (60) put on 95 for the first wicket.

In a solid Sudbury batting performance, Armaan Randhawa (65) added valuable middle order runs as the home side reached 211-5 from their 35 overs.

Matthew Thankachan was the most successful Basingstoke bowler with 2-41.

In the visitor’s reply, new boy Ben Thane led the way, as he top scored with 44 from 46 balls, which included six fours and one six.

Along with skipper Mitch Stokes (10) they put on 58 for the second wicket.

However, after this the Bountymen struggled with only Daniel Birch (13) on his debut and David Griffiths (25) making it into double figures, as they were all out for 130.

Basingstoke’s second team were also in action at Sudbury and narrowly lost by three runs.

The home side scored 196-8 from their 35 overs with Nitin Mathew returning 3-44 and there were two wickets each for Ashley Neal and Rakitha Perera.

Basingstoke in their reply reached 193-9 as Joe Oates top scored with 36 and was supported by Neal (22), Richard Vinn (21) and Chris Chandler (20)

The first team are in action today at Totton and Eling in the ECB Club Championship.