BASINGSTOKE and North Hants remain bottom of the ECB Southern Premier Division as their a winless start to the campaign continues.

After last week’s game against Burridge was a wash-out, the Bountymen were hoping the tides would turn for them with a trip to Newclose on the Isle of Wight to face Hampshire Academy.

However, a 48-run defeat leaves them bottom of the pile with only 18 points.

Ironically it was a Basingstoke-born teenager who did the damage to the Bountymen as George Metzger’s 59 runs put the hosts well on their way to scoring 199 all out.

The Bountymen started well with David Griffiths bowling George Pardoe for a duck, giving the visitors the best possible start.

However, Tom Prest (23) and Metzger put on a rebuilding job, taking the score to 64-4 by the time Prest was caught by Lawrence Benge.

Metzger was finally bowled by Jordan Hobday, while Joe Oates had the pick of the figures for the Bountymen, collecting three wickets from eight overs.

With Basingstoke and North Hants at the crease, runs seemed to be few and far between as only Griffiths managed to get more than 25 runs (27 not out).

Captain Ben Thane managed to get things off to a steady start clocking up 17 runs before being caught by Fletcha Middleton from Ajeet Dale’s delivery.

The Bountymen seem to be slowly clocking up the runs, with Jordan Hobday (10), Max Harsham (18) and Bradley Neal (17) all doing their best to chase down the 199 target.

However, apart from Griffiths, the only other Basingstoke batsmen who was able to get past the 20 run mark was Thomas Allam (23) who was bowled out by Monaam Abbas.

A late flourish from the hosts bowling attack made light work of the Bountymen’s last three men at the crease of Oates, Neal and Benge, who scored a combined total of nine runs.

Basingstoke and North Hants will be back on familiar ground this Saturday as they host St Cross Symondians at May’s Bounty.