Kieran Thomson and Harry Robson hit centuries as Hook & Newnham Basics went on an early season run rampage heavily defeating arch-rivals Basingstoke & North Hants and Liphook & Ripsley in the process.

Thomson hit his first hundred in eight seasons, scoring an unbeaten 104 as Hook ran up a towering 340-8 before bowling Basingstoke out for a disappointing 120 to win by a massive 220 runs, writes Mike Vimpany.

Robson got a duck against the visiting Bountymen, but bounced back with an unbeaten century which set up a seven-wicket win over Liphook & Ripsley the following day. In total, Hook’s batsmen scored a staggering 609 runs in the two games.

Ironically, Both the returning Ben Thane and Robson fell for ducks to Tyler Bradley before the Hook run machine roared into action against Basingstoke – Sam Lockwood (41) got the show on the road.

Thomson’s 104 – his first century since making 157 at Totton & Eling in June 2015 – came alongside a half-century from Matt Love (56), who has returned to the KGV after an injury ravaged spell at Surrey Championship club Spencer.

Their 125-run partnership set the stage for Matt Buckingham to unleash a blistering assault on a tiring Basingstoke attack – fours and sixes galore flying into the KGV woods Buckingham flayed an unbeaten 80 off 45 balls, his knock containing four maximums and seven fours.

Only Ash Neal, with an unbeaten 67, put up much resistance as Basingstoke fell away to 120 all out, Aniket Divecha taking 3-35.

Southern Premier Division newcomers Hook tested themselves in a run chase against Liphook & Ripsley – and came through with flying colours.

Giles Cover (51) top scored as all of Liphook’s top order spent valuable early season time at the crease, Harry Munt (39) and one-time Basingstoke junior Grant Rouse making 38 not out.

Hook got home with 16 balls of their 45 overs to spare, Lockwood (73) and Robson sharing a 140-run start. Robson reached his century (containing 15 fours) while Josh Buckingham (41) and Love (31) helped him get Hook past the finish post.

Hook & Newnham seconds, meanwhile, came under fire as Fareham & Crofton opener Dan Wimble launched a ferocious attack of his own on their bowling at Bath lane.

Wimble struck six sixes and 11 fours in a brutal 103 which, in partnership with a more sedate knock from left-hander Tom Kent (61), pointed Fareham towards a formidable 254-4 (Greg Archer 3-25) off 40 overs.

Only Rhodes Franklin (72) fired in Hook IIs 195 all out, James Headen taking 4-49.

Hook IIs bounced back with an 87-run win over Alton, Sam Bruin (81) top scoring in heir 188-7. Shane Brewer and Lewis Watts shared six Alton scalps as the Brewers fell to 81 all out.