SPL Division One cricket – New Milton beaten by Basingstoke & North Hants

SPL Division One
New Milton CC 135
Basingstoke & North Hants CC 136-3

NEW Milton never looked like posting a decent run total against an impressive Basingstoke & North Hants side that went on to win by seven wickets at May's Bounty.

Basingstoke & North Hants chose to field first, putting the New Forest side in to bat on a damp and unfamiliar wicket. Ultimately, their choice proved fruitful with New Milton losing wickets steadily throughout their innings.

New Milton started in the worst possible way, with both openers Ryan Beck (0) and Jo Wooster (2) caught off Jake Fincken (2-34) for a paltry 10 runs.

Lewis Naylor (15) and Dan Loader (18) did their best to repair the damage, but back-to-back catches by keeper Richard Vinn off Neil Shelar (2-10) left New Milton floundering on 42-4.

Captain George Watts (59) steadied the ship with nine fours and, with partner Ed Bartlett (10), they added 40 runs before the fifth wicket fell at 82.

However, once Joe Oates caught Watts off the bowling of Dubs Wood (3-20), the innings came to an ignominious end with Ed Wooster (12), Liam Miller (1), Kristian Locke (1), Billy Tompkins (0) and Stephen Watts (1 not out) all out for just six runs.

In reply, Basingstoke & North Hants openers, Vinn and Woods (19), got their side off to a flying start, storming to 50 when Watts (2-9) took the latter's wicket.

Ed Wooster took a great catch to end Basingstoke & North Hants skipper Ashley Neal's afternoon after 13 runs before Matt Deadman added 119, leaving with the hosts just 16 runs short.

Vinn (51 not out) claimed his half-century, and with partner Joe Oates (4 not out), they effortlessly saw their side across the line with seven wickets to spare.

New Milton's other wicket-taker was Dan Loader (1-38).

New Milton are next in action on Saturday at home against Alton at 12.30pm.