BASINGSTOKE and North Hants opened their Home Counties League division two east campaign in superb style with a three-wicket victory at Burnham.
The May's Bounty side's new overseas player, Indian seam bowler Thiru Kumaran, and Hampshire's Kevin Latouf made their club debuts in the win.
Basingstoke skipper Mitch Stokes won the toss and put the home side in to bat and Kum-aran produced a good opening spell of 10 overs which yielded just eight runs.
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Burnham looked to be going well at 90-1, but Kumaran struck again on his way to figures of 4-26 from 19.1 overs.
The Berkshire side's batting then crumbled in the same way that Gosport's had the week before in a cup match at May's Bounty.
Skipper Stokes helped himself to figures of 5-43 as the home side were bowled out for 160 in 50.1 overs.
That left the visitors having 60 overs to reach their target and they were going well at 60-1.
Then they lost Latouf (30), Stokes and Lee Nurse - all in the space of 10 runs.
Opener Russell Droy (49) kept the score-board ticking over and, with Martyn James (36), edged Basingstoke towards victory, which was completed when they reached 164-7 with 16 overs to spare.
Delighted captain Stokes said: "It was great to win the toss, having lost six on the bounce to finish last year.
"I decided to put them in as it gave us the opportunity to chase a target. The idea was to limit their scoring, which we did with a good display in the field.
"I felt sorry for Kenny (Thiru Kumaran) as he was running from 25 yards and getting them to play and miss and I was bowling from five yards and getting them to nick it.
"He deserved all the wickets he got at the end."
He added: "It was a great team performance and gets us off on the right start as we try to win promotion."
It was a good day for the club on the opening league day of the season as all five sides won.
One player missing from the Basingstoke first-team line-up on Saturday was Darren Rouse, who was down at the Rose Bowl on duty as 12th man for England Lions in their game against New Zealand.
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