BASINGSTOKE and North Hants’ stand-in-skipper Andy Giles says the Bountymen must find a way to impose themselves on the game when teams open the bowling with spinners.

Thames Valley League rules allow the side fielding second to continue using the old ball, meaning that opening batsmen, who are accustomed to facing pace bowlers, can find themselves up against spinners.

This tactic has posed Basingstoke problems this season, as shown at Wokingham on Saturday. The hosts took the opportunity to give their wily spinners the ball first and the Bountymen’s top order collapsed to leave them 44-5 at one stage.

They recovered to claim a gritty draw, batting out 48 overs to finish on 154-9, with final pair Andy Fulton and Chris Chandler seeing off the final 27 balls.

However, the early flurry of wickets left them with no chance of chasing Wokingham’s total of 276-9.

“Having got a big score, they put the spinners on – and openers are used to having pace on the ball,” Giles said. “It unsettled us and is something we need to think about in the future.”

Despite being unbeaten in five Thames Valley division one outings, Basingstoke are struggling near the bottom of the table – making Saturday’s home game against |basement side Maidenhead and Bray a must-win fixture.

Maidenhead have won just once all season and were bowled out for just 96 in a 136-run defeat at home to Kew last week.

Giles is hoping to be out of the team on Saturday as the Bountymen look to welcome back regular captain and opening batsman Russell Droy, who has missed the last few weeks due to a broken finger.

Seamer Jon Bradley and batsman Ben Foxley are also expected to return after being unavailable for the trip to Wokingham – but opening bowler Chandler looks set to miss out with hamstring and shoulder problems.

Giles said: “We will be hoping to play better on Saturday. We want to keep our run going and will be looking for a win against a side below us in the table.”