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Lee Nurse responds to a lucky escape for Malden Wanderers

AFTER two defeats, Basingstoke and North Hants will be hoping for a change of fortune this weekend.

Mitch Stokes' travel to Kidlington for a league fixture on Saturday before facing Havant in the National Cup at May's Bounty on Sunday (1pm).

Basingstoke hope to continue their 100 per cent away record in Home Counties League division two west this season at bottom side Kidlington.

Last Saturday at May's Bounty, they looked on course to strengthen their title ambitions when they had visiting Gerrards Cross reeling at 107-7 at lunch.

The Buckinghamshire side recovered to 267-8 and cruised home 74-run winners thanks to another poor batting display.

The defeat put Basingstoke down to sixth and now nothing but a win will do on Saturday.

They will have to wait on the fitness of Jon Govett, who suffered a back injury on Saturday. Keith Harris is added to the bowling line-up and Jon Bradley stands by to replace Govett.

Kevin Latouf, who received a call-up for the Hampshire Hawks early on Saturday morning, will return as the Rose Bowl side have no Twenty20 game.

Stokes said: "So far we have played well away from home and will hope to continue that. They have been struggling and we cannot afford to lose many more games if we are going to be challenging for promotion."

Sunday's visitors Havant are the Southern League champions and are led by Richard Hindley, who in the past month has taken two seven-wicket hauls.

Also in their line-up is former Hampshire first teamer Lawrie Prittipaul, while all-rounder Ben Walker has just been named the player-of-the-month in the top division.

In a clash of two of the top sides in the county, the home side will have Hampshire Academy pair Adam Rouse and Chris Wood back in their line-up and Latouf will play if he has no Twenty20 commitments.

When the sides last met in the competition in 2006 at Havant, the home side won by 69 runs.

Stokes said: "We have had some good matches with Havant and games have gone either way, so I expect the same on Sunday."

Victory in the tie will earn a place in the area group final against either Cove or Bashley.

Last Sunday, Basingstoke were knocked out of the Evening Standard Trophy after losing by 25 runs to Malden Wanderers at May's Bounty.

The home side made 285-5 from their allotted 50 overs with Ali Pearson (2-59) the chief wicket taker.

In reply, the home side were all out for 260, with Stokes (75) and Lee Nurse (60) the top scorers, sharing a 99-run third-wicket stand.

Nurse and Craig Williamson (39) moved the score to 179-4, but wickets started to fall and Basingstoke fell short of their target.

Stokes said: "We had a number of players from the second and third teams playing in this game and it was a good effort and we ran them close."

The previous day, Basingstoke II lost their unbeaten start to their Thames Valley division 2A campaign, but remain top after losing at Datchet by 104 runs.

The home side batted first, making 284-6, with Keith Harsham (3-58) and Keith Harris (3-66) the wicket takers.

In reply, the visitors were all out for 180. Harris, batting at number 10, top-scored with an unbeaten 43.

Basingstoke V head Aldershot II by a point at the top of division 8A after an 80-run victory at Theale and Tilehurst III.

Peter Gray (64 not out) formed the cornerstone of the visitors' innings of 217-8, while Ian Hill (6-44) helped restrict the home side to 137.

12:43pm Friday 20th June 2008

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