Hook & Newnham Basics III v Steep: STEEP recorded their eighth win of the season and moved into fifth place in the table with a fine run chase against Hook and Newnham Basics’ third team.

The afternoon started with stand-in skipper Dean Knight losing the toss and being asked to bowl first.

The Steep attack was led again by Jack Campbell bowling an exemplary line, resulting in the removal of opener Bland who had led a charmed life against George Perry.

Change bowlers Fred Hughes-Stanton and Rich Atkins caused some problems and chipped away at the Hook top order. Ally Bone benefitted from indifferent bounce, picking up two wickets, while the returning Campbell had Warner well caught by Graham Hughes.

Steep stuck at their task well and the last four wickets fell in quick succession, leaving a victory target of 222.

Steep made a perfect start in their chase with openers Sean Noble and Dale Collins forging a fine opening partnership of 97 runs before Collins fell just short of a 50.

Knight scored a flurry of boundaries before he become the first victim of some very low bounce. Noble was the next to fall but the scoreboard kept moving along.

Chris Adams, James Kiddle and Rich Atkins all made contributions but were all undone by low bounce.

Graham Hughes kept things steady and moved the score to within the victory target with the help of Perry before hitting a towering six to win the game with two wickets remaining.