BASINGSTOKE and North Hants continued their recent winning run in the Southern League Premier Division, as they crushed Alton by nine wickets.

Home skipper Mitch Stokes won the toss and elected to bowl.

Chris Jolley soon struck to remove Alex Hammond for 21 with the score on 26. Martyn James (2-27) then trapped Michael Heffenan (15) and bowled Joe Paul (11) to leave Alton on 52-3.

Daniel Harris (29) added 23 with Scott Myers (10) and then aided by Andrew Posties (11) got the score to 100.

However, at this point, Stokes (3-19) had Posties caught by Matt Thankachan and Ben Mortimer by wicket keeper Lawrence Benge as the visitors slumped to 107-6.

Thankachan then removed top scorer Harris, thanks to a Jolley catch and Daniel Scott was Stokes’ third wicket two runs later.

Last pair Justin Ballinger (14) and Xavier Bochereau (10 not out) added useful late runs, before Ballinger was caught and bowled by Thane, as he took 2-13 from just 11 balls.

In the end the Alton were all out for 143 in the 43rd over.

The Bountymen’s reply got off to a great start as Thane and Jolley put on 126 for the first wicket.

Jolley was bowled by Ballinger to end an excellent knock of 59 from 60 balls, which included nine fours and a six.

It was left to Thane and Dan Belcher to see the home side to victory off the first ball of the 24th over.

Thane finished with a superb run-a-ball 66 not out, hitting two maximums and eight fours and Belcher was unbeaten on nine.

The Bountymen complete their league campaign with a home game against South Wilts next weekend.

Today at May’s Bounty, Basingstoke were due to face Hook in the final of the Finch Group Guy Jewell Cup, but it has been cancelled due to the rain and will be played on September 2.