Joe Oates continues to lead from the front as Basingstoke & North Hants eye a third-placed finish in Southern Premier Division 1.

Beating now-relegated Liphook & Ripsley by 82 runs was Stoke’s sixth win in eight matches and lifted them two points above Calmore Sports in the jostle for third spot behind title contenders Alton and Sarisbury Athletic.

Basingstoke took the initiative from the start at Ripsley Park, where 17-year-old Dubs Wood smashed 67 of a 104-run opening partnership with Richard Vinn (17), who was out one run later.

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Matt Deadman (47) kept the pot boiling until Oates struck a blistering 70 off 40 balls, including seven fours and three sixes. His fifth fifty-plus score took his season’s tally to 452.

Sean Burton and Rob Nicklin each took 3-45 as Basingstoke were dismissed for 272.

Liphook began on a positive note through Ryan Covey (43), teenager Henry Amis (20) and Giles Cover (20), but fell away from 126-3 as Wood (4-59) and Alistair Brown (3-34) made inroads. They were 190 all out.

Basingstoke seconds will play Hampshire League cricket next summer after a five-wicket defeat by promotion contenders Sway condemned them to a bottom two Division 3 finish alongside winless Purbrook.

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Neil Shelar (69) top scored in Basingstoke’s 204-9. Sway lost some early wickets, but eventually cruised to a comfortable win.