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Kevin Latouf plays his last game for Basingstoke

A FIRST home league victory of the season is the aim for Basingstoke and North Hants this Saturday when newly-promoted Buckingham are the visitors to May's Bounty.

Mitch Stoke's team have lost on home soil in their three Home Counties League games this season while, in contrast, they have a 100 per cent winning record on their travels.

Basingstoke's latest success came on Saturday, when they crushed bottom side Kidlington by 149 runs.

Kenny Thirun (5-64) and Mitch Stokes (5-38) gave a fine display with the ball, while Lee Nurse, unbeaten on 95 and Kevin Latouf (62) set up the victory chance.

Hampshire player Latouf will play his final game for Basingstoke this weekend as he is being loaned by the county to Warwickshire - initially for a month, but it could be for the rest of the season.

The May's Bounty side are hoping to have one of his Hampshire team-mates, Chris Benham, as a replacement. The big-hitting top-order batsman is currently playing in the Twenty20 Cup for the Hawks.

Dean Nurse (back) and Nigel Williamson (knee) are injury worries for the weekend.

It will be Basingstoke's first-ever league encounter with Buckingham in division two west and Stokes said: "I know nothing about them, but for us it is a matter of getting that first win at home.

"We need to start putting a winning run together to push us up with the leaders."

Paying tribute to opening batsman Latouf, Stokes said: "He has certainly played his part this season and I hope it goes well for him at Warwickshire.

"I have been talking to Chris (Benham) and he is keen to join us. So we will see what happens."

Last Sunday, Basingstoke were knocked out of the National Cup by Havant in a run feast at May's Bounty where 591 runs were scored.

The visitors decided to bat, with former Hampshire star Lawrence Prittipaul leading the way with a century. He was well supported by Stuart Ransley (77) as the current Southern League champions reached 318-5 from 45 overs.

In reply, Basingstoke made a quick start with Stokes (38) hitting two sixes and four fours in 23 balls.

He shared a 56-run opening stand with Russell Droy (31). Then Hampshire Academy player Chris Wood hit 63 from 61 balls, including one six and six fours.

The Young Hawk shared an 83-run third-wicket stand with Lee Nurse (42), while Adam Rouse (33) also kept the scoreboard ticking over.

The home side finished on 273, with Lawrence Benge (10) putting the ball into Castle Field and also hitting a four in the five balls he faced.

Stokes said: "Havant are a good side, but we dropped (Lawrence) Prittipaul on 20 and he went on to score a quick 100, which made it easy for the other batsmen coming in."

Basingstoke II lost for the second week running in Thames Valley division 2A - by 109 runs to Marlow at May's Bounty. The visitors made 242-9, with Martyn James (4-48) and Keith Harsham (3-60) the chief wicket takers.

In reply, opener Richard Vinn (47) enjoyed support from top-order batsmen Andy Giles (23) and Craig Williamson (20). The team then slumped, with only Jon Govett (13) making it into double figures, and they were all out for 131.

Basingstoke V's reign in division 8A ended in spectacular style when they lost by eight wickets after being shot out for 69 by visiting Cove Academy.

Only Steve Hursell (13) and Jamie Gray (13 not out) made double figures. In reply, Kesavan Kandadai (2-23) ensured a bonus bowling point for Basingstoke, but Cove knocked off the winning runs in 17 overs.

9:51am Friday 27th June 2008

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