BASINGSTOKE and North Hants won the Guy Jewell Cup for the third year running, as they saw off Rotherfield Park by four wickets at May’s Bounty on Monday afternoon.

Rotherfield Park having won the toss decided to bat and their innings early one was held together by a solid knock from opener and man of the match Mark Heffernan.

He top-scored with 41 and he departed with the score on 71 in the 10th over, being one of two wickets for Ali Brown.

Scott Myers then took up the mantle for 35, before being the fifth man out caught by Neil Shelar off the bowling of Matt Donaldson.

Guy Jewell Cup winners Basingstoke and North Hants Guy Jewell Cup winners Basingstoke and North Hants (Image: Graham Merry)

Any chance of a late run flurry was then dashed as Abhi Saranth picked up two late wickets, thanks to catches from George Metzger and wicket-keeper Lawrence Benge.

The bowler went on to finish with very impressive figures of 3-10 from three overs.

It also limited Rotherfield to 126-7 from their 20 overs, which never looked a big enough total.

Basingstoke’s reply got off to a solid start as openers Matt Deadman (35) and Dubs Wood (8) put on 42 for the first wicket.

However, both were back in the pavilion with 51 on the board, being victims of first-change bowler Wilf Bridger (2-22).

The Bountymen rebuilt again thanks to George Metzger (26) and Brad Neal (12) as the pair moved the score to 80.

Metzger was then the fourth man out thanks to Wilf Bridger’s amazing catch off the bowling of Scott Myers (2-28), which earned the fielder the Magic Moment Award.

This brought Joe Oates and Ash Neal (10) together and they moved the total into three figures, before Neal departed after being caught, after having hit a six the previous ball. 

Oates then guided the team to victory with an unbeaten 17, along with Matt Donaldson (8 not out), who joined him after Shelar was bowled for four.

The Bountymen got home with three overs to spare as they continued their great run in the competition.