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Basingstoke's opening batsman Russell Droy helps his team to victory against Buckingham

OVERSEAS player Kenny Thirun was the star of the show as Basingstoke and North Hants recorded their first home league win of the season.

The Indian all-rounder was especially impressive with the bat against Buckingham Town at May's Bounty on Saturday, hitting a quickfire 75 that included a number of beautifully-struck boundaries.

Coming to the crease at number eight, with his side struggling somewhat on 145-6, Thirun formed a fine partnership of 138 with youngster Ben Foxley (58), to leave Basingstoke defending an imposing total of 283.

Not satisfied with his day's work, Thirun then set to work with the ball, claiming two wickets for the loss of just 19 runs as Buckingham were skittled for 111.

Speaking after the match, captain Mitch Stokes was quick to heap praise on his overseas star.

"Kenny batted very well for his score today," he said. "We know he should be batting higher up the order but he has done a good job at number eight today.

"It had begun to look a bit dodgy, but Kenny and Ben put together a good partnership of more than 100, which we have only seen one or two of this year, and that helped us a lot."

The 172-run win was Basingstoke's first league victory at May's Bounty in 2008, following three home defeats. It lifts them up to second in the Home Counties division two (west) table, a position Stokes feels they are capable of holding on to.

"If we keep winning on a consistent basis we are going to keep with the leaders in this league," he said. "I am very happy with the performance today. It's good to get a home win at last and I am pleased that we have not fallen away after winning on our travels last week."

Buckingham won the toss and put Basingstoke in to bat on a green pitch that looked like it should have something for the quicker bowlers.

However, openers Russell Droy and Kevin Latouf made light of the conditions, giving Basingstoke a good platform by putting on 80 for the first wicket.

Droy finally fell to the seam bowling of Jason Ell for 37, and he was followed back to the pavilion by Stokes (4), who was on the receiving end of a tough umpiring decision when he was adjudged to have been stumped.

Latouf went on to make 50 in his final match for Basingstoke, but was dismissed shortly after, leaving the home side at 111-3. The middle order collapse continued with Lee Nurse (13), Dean Nurse (18) and Darren Rouse (1) failing to make a real mark, and Basingstoke found themselves reduced to 145-6.

It was in this tricky position that Thirun joined Foxley at the crease and the pair batted superbly to take the match away from the visitors, allowing Stokes to declare two overs early when Foxley was stumped going for another big shot.

The Buckingham reply never really got off the ground, with Stokes, who finished with figures of 4-46, especially impressive with the ball.

It was he who claimed the first two wickets, Buckingham captain Rob Large (5) being caught at third slip by a diving Dean Nurse, before Jonny Cater (4) hit the ball straight to Keith Harris at mid-on.

A great piece of bowling by Thirun earned the third wicket - a fine slower delivery tricking left-hander Dewayne Bowden (7) into offering up the easiest of catches for Lee Nurse at short mid-off.

After this, wickets continued to fall at regular intervals, with all four of the Basingstoke bowlers claiming at least two scalps. Seamer Chay Gardiner produced a good spell when he replaced Thirun at the pavilion end, taking 2-26, while spinner Keith Harris ended some stubborn resistance by the tail, clean bowling his two victims and finishing with figures of 2-7.

3:11pm Monday 30th June 2008

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