DUBS Wood hit an unbeaten half-century and shared a match-winning stand with Matt Deadman as Basingstoke & North Hants gave their ECB Southern Premier Division survival prospects a massive boost with a five-wicket win at defending champions Burridge.

He hit 51 not out and Deadman an undefeated 31, the pair adding 49 after Basingstoke - chasing down a Burridge total of 194 - had lost two quick wickets in slipping to 146-5.

It was Basingstoke's first win since mid-June, three defeats and a draw in recent weeks leaving them in second from bottom position, immediately above Havant, whom they visit on Saturday, August 17.  

Basingstoke resume their 50-over 'red ball' programme at South Wilts on Saturday with a 23-point lead over Havant at the bottom of the table.

READ MORE: Basingstoke and North Hants facing a six-match battle to avoid relegation

Dubs Wood hit an unbeaten half-century (Image: Mike Vimpany) The Burridge match turned in Stoke's favour when Matt Donaldson (3-35) bowled South African opener Mat Goles. Burridge dropped from 81-1 to 121-6 with Sachin Sivanandan (3-31) and Ash Neal (3-33) each taking two wickets.

Dan Stancliffe (35) and Francis Moore (23) led a Burridge revival which culminated in the 2023 champions being dismissed for 194.

Lead Burridge seamer Inayat Ullah (3-39) checked Basingstoke's progress at 75-3 - Abid (28) and Ash Neal (29) having put together a handy stand - but George Metzger's return after a lengthy ban proved key.  

Metzger (32) doubled the score in a fourth wicket partnership with Wood, whose unbeaten half-century proved decisive. Deadman, benefitting from batting in a middle-order role, got 31 of the 49 runs the pair put together to get Basingstoke across the line.