South Wilts still in the mix after 7-wicket win over Basingstoke

A comfortable seven-wicket win over Basingstoke & North Hants leaves them in third spot, five points behind the top table topping Hampshire Academy and two adrift of Bashley (Rydal), in second place.

Of the clubs in contention - St Cross Symondians lurk menacingly in fourth place - South Wilts have arguably the least demanding run in.

Remaining fixtures for the title contenders -

Academy: St Cross Symondians (a), Alton (h), Basingstoke & North Hants (a), South Wilts (h).

Bashley (Rydal): Bournemouth (a), St Cross Symondians (h), Alton (a), Basingstoke & North Hants (h).

South Wilts: Burridge (a), Lymington (a), Havant (h), Academy (a).

St Cross Symondians: Hampshire Academy (h), Bashley (Rydal)(a), Bournemouth (h), Burridge (a).

Basingstoke lost four wickets before the score reached 50 at Bemerton - Aussie Ryan Freeman taking 2-35 - and needed a fifth-wicket rescue act from George Metzger (48) and Matt Deadman (21) to get anything like a competitive score on the board.

The pair added 55 before Metzger was bowled by Rob Pittman at 100-4. Tom Grant (3-35) took three of the next five wickets to fall as Basingstoke dropped to 137-9 before last pair Ali Brown and Prashant Yelpale added a bonus 29.

Jack Mynott led the way with an unbeaten and ten boundary 62 as South Wilts recovered from the early loss of James Degg to cruise home in the 33rd over.

Tom Cheater (37), Harry Broderick (24) and Ben Draper (24 not out) played key support roles, while Brown's left-arm spin was rewarded with a 2-38 return.

In total contrast, South Wilts are involved in a desperately increasing bid to stave off relegation to the Hampshire League.

They lie second from bottom of Premier Division 3 after a seven-wicket defeat by Hursley Park.

If they lose to Fareham & Crofton on Saturday, they will find it difficult to escape.

Teenager Ben Howgrave-Graham smacked 71of South Wilts' 191-9, a total Hursley polish off with some comfort.