BASINGSTOKE and North Hants will head to Bournemouth this Saturday, hoping for victory in the Southern League Premier Division basement battle.

This is the first game of the second half of the campaign and the Bountymen have won just once this season.

Bournemouth also have also registered just one victory, which was at May’s Bounty on the opening day of the season.

On that occasion the Dorset side won by 28 runs, as Luke Webb scored 141 in their winning total of 244-8.

The Bountymen are hopeful injured duo skipper Ben Thane and Jordan Hobday will be back to bolster their batting which has been their weak link all season. If Thane misses out again this weekend, Dan Belcher will continue as captain for this crunch game.

Thane said: “This is a game we must win. I think if we can win one we will start a run going. We are bowling and fielding really well, but it is our batting that is letting us down.”

That was the case again last weekend, as Lymington were bowled out for 214, as Tom Allam took 3-34 and Basingstoke were shot out for 121.