Basingstoke & North Hants II v Liphook & Ripsley: A PATIENT and decisive fifth-wicket stand of 69 between top scorer Harry Munt (69) and Jonny Pryce (39) was the backbone of Liphook and Ripsley’s nail-biting 14-run May’s Bounty win against Basingstoke and North Hants’ second team in Division 2 of the Southern Premier Cricket League.

Rob Nicklin (23) started brightly with four fours, and Chris Martin and Ric Williams both contributed 14.

However, it was Munt’s knock that made him man of the match, as he hit a late surge of boundaries after a patient start.

Chaz Janczur then contributed a useful 19 at number nine as Liphook were bowled out for 210.

Mathew Thankachan (4-31) was Basingstoke’s most effective bowler, and the economical Keith Harris finished with figures of 2-28.

The Basingstoke innings was dominated by Scott Dyer’s 67. Other Basingstoke batsmen offered promise but soon departed, other than Josh Weir who contributed a 61-ball 27. Their fifth-wicket 72-run partnership began to suggest a home victory was possible.

Liphook’s three spinners took advantage of a helpful pitch. Leading the way was left-arm orthodox Dave Elliott with a crucial 3-35, as he dismissed three of the home side’s top four. Elliott was supported by the control of Oscar Amis and Nicklin.

Skipper Sean Burton returned to mop up the tail with an invaluable spell of at-the-death seam (4-34), to leave Basingstoke 14 short on 196 all out.