Basingstoke and North Hants thrashed Thames Valley League leaders Cove by nine wickets on Saturday to narrow the gap at the top of Division One to just three points.
Home side Cove won the toss and decided to bat first at Grasmere Road but their innings quickly disintegrated into farce. Martyn James had James Marsh (3) caught by Jack Parsons and then Dilon Heyliger removed fellow opener Nick Randall lbw for a duck.
James was too hot to handle for the Cove batsmen, and he went on to claim fantastic figures of 8-34 with Heyliger taking the sole other wicket. Cove could only post a total of 87 in 39 overs before they were bowled out, with only Simon Reed showing any fight with a knock of 35.
Basingstoke's response suffered a setback when opener Andrew Fulton was bowled by Andy McNeill for 12, but captain Russell Droy (50 not out) and Adam Rouse (21) cruised to victory inside 17 overs. Basingstoke now have a 20 point cushion over third-placed Kew with three games remaining. Next up for the Bountymen are visitors Finchampstead on Saturday.
