Hook & Newnham Basics III v Steep: STEEP leapfrogged Hook and Newnham Basics’ third team and moved up to fourth place in County Division 3 North of the Hampshire Cricket League after a crushing 138-run victory on Saturday afternoon.

After overnight rain, the hosts invited Steep to bat first and scoring proved difficult, but S Smith dug in for 32.

Steep looked way off the rate after 34 overs, when they were on 102-4.

However, Kiddle came to the crease and hit a positive and fluent 43, and he was ably supported by Atkins, who bludgeoned a quickfire 30 not out for Steep to finish on 214-6.

After tea Steep started well with the ball, with J Smith and Atkins applying the pressure.

Atkins ripped through Hook and Newnham Basics’ top-order with figures of 4-23 from his nine overs, and captain Smith returned 1-7 off his opening seven overs.

Leg-spinner S Smith then entered the attack and notched up his third five-wicket haul of the season when he cleaned up the middle-order and tail with a fine spell of 5-21, which included a hat-trick.

Steep bowled the home side out for just 76.