BASINGSTOKE and North Hants secured the first leg of a possible treble as they won the Don Lynch Aylward Cup at the first attempt, beating Eversley by 15 runs at Hartley Wintney on Tuesday night.

A swashbuckling innings from man-of-the-match Joe McDonnell, who hammered an unbeaten 34 off just 11 balls in the final three overs, helped Basingstoke to 133-3 from 15 eight-ball overs, while opener Dilon Heyliger was 57 not out.

In reply, former Basingstoke player Scott Dyer (30) topped the Eversley batting as they scored 117-5, while Matt Thankachan (0-14 from four overs) and Heyliger (1-8 from three) were the pick of bowlers .

This weekend, the Bountymen turn their attention to the battle for the Thames Valley League division one title and after a superb nine-wicket win at leaders Cove last Saturday, the lead at the top has been sliced to just three points.

Basingstoke will now look to keep the pressure on in the final three games of the season, starting with a visit from sixth placed Finchampstead, while Cove are at fifth placed High Wycombe.

After that, Basingstoke travel to relegation-threatened Fleet, while Cove make the tough trip to third placed Kew.

The final weekend of the season will see Basingstoke at home to fourth in the table Amersham, while Cove entertain Finchampstead.

Last Saturday, Martyn James was in brilliant form at Cove as he returned a career best 8-34 – taking his league scalps to 46 for the season.

The seamer took 49 wickets last season and is determined to reach his half-century and would love to do that against Finchampstead.

James said: “50-plus wickets is my aim for the season and I would love to do it against Finch, but the main thing is to make sure we keep winning so we can overtake Cove.”

When Basingstoke met their Berkshire rivals earlier in the season they shot them out for 80, with Jon Bradley the leading wicket taker with five.

He will miss the rest of season due to suspension after swearing at an umpire in the win over High Wycombe a fortnight ago.

Basingstoke won that game by nine wickets with Hampshire star Chris Wood scoring a quick-fire 50. He could return to the line-up if he’s not on County Championship duty at Edgbaston, otherwise it will be an unchanged side that will face Finchampstead.

Looking ahead to the clash Bountymen captain Russell Droy said: “They will certainly be smarting from losing so badly at their place, but we have to make sure that our win against Cove was not in vain and I feel they have the harder run-in, especially if they lose the toss at Kew.

“We just have to keep winning and being at home I would back us to do that.”

Basingstoke reached their second cup final of the summer last Sunday, beating Old Wimbledonians by 66 runs in the Bertie Joel Cup.

The home side posted an impressive 258-9 as skipper Droy (79) top scored, sharing a 99-run fourth-wicket stand with Heyliger (51).

In reply, the visitors were bowled out for 192 as Matt Thankachan (3-21) and Dan Coombs (2-8) led the wicket takers.

The final will be played at Sutton in the first week of September.