THE Buckingham brothers Josh and Matt made sure Hook and Newnham Basics won their top of the table clash at Portsmouth by three wickets.

The Southern League Division One leaders looked in trouble on the south coast, when they came together with the score 46-4 chasing 192 for victory.

The Buckingham brothers then put on 69 for the fourth wicket, before Matt Buckingham departed for 58 which included 12 fours.

Skipper Josh Buckingham then took over with a match winning 85 not out, which came off 62 balls and saw him clear the boundary rope seven times and hit six times.

His fine knock steered his side home with 12 overs to spare.

Earlier, in the contest Portsmouth won the toss and decided to bat and opening bowler Jack Murrell removed the top four batsmen in his 4-32.

He caught and bowled opener Ben Duggan (4) and thanks to wicket keeper Josh Buckingham with two catches and brother Matt one, he sent back James Christian (8), Thomas Wallis (17) and Fraser Hay (25).

Portsmouth were now 70-4 and it soon became 74-5 as Kieran Thomson removed Jack Marston (8) thanks to another Matt Buckingham catch.

After this the home side recovered thanks to Dan Wallis (28) and Alex Hammond (25) as they put on 55 for the sixth wicket.

Daniel Moore (5-26) took over as he removed the tail as Josh Buckingham picked up another catch and two stumpings as Portsmouth were bowled out for 191, as Henry Woolf (22), Rueben McArdle (14) and Andrew Marston (14 not out) added late runs.

Hook will continue their quest for the Division One title at home to Sarisbury this Saturday.