BROTHERS Brad and Ash Neal were Basingstoke and North Hants’ heroes as they chalked up only their second league win of the Southern League Premier Division this season at Burridge.

Brad Neal hit a superb 95 not out to steer the Bountymen to 209 and then brother Ash Neal took 5-51 as the home side fell 30 runs short of their target.

Burridge skipper Richard Ankers won the toss and put Basingstoke into bat.

It looked a wise move as they slumped to 14-3 with Dan Belcher, Keiron Wood and Jordan Hobday all back in the pavilion as Daniel Stancliffe (4-59) did some early damage.

Brad Porteous (20) and David Griffiths (39) moved the score to 32, before Porteous departed and Matt Deadman did not last long as the Bountymen found themselves 36-5.

Brad Neal and Griffiths then took the total to 99, before skipper Griffiths was bowled by Hilio De Abreu (5-53).

Brother Ash then joined Brad at the centre, and they added 57 for the seventh wicket, before Ash departed for 24.

After this Brad Neal moved the score to 209, before running out of partners just four shy of what would have been a fine century.

However, in the end it proved to be a match winning innings and he hit 13 fours in 124 balls.

The home side’s reply got off to the worst possible start with Sullivan White caught behind by Lawrence Benge after just two balls, as Brad Porteous (3-36) picked up his first wicket

Joe Colllings-White (52) and Azimunnoor Chowdhury (27) then recovered things as they added 75 for the second wicket.

Both were removed thanks to catches from Hobday, but at 97-3 the home side looked in the driving seat.

The top order continued to keep the scoreboard ticking over, thanks to Richard Lock (33) and Kieran Gayle (27), but from 156-4 the home side fell apart being bowled out for 179.

This was thanks to another excellent spell from Ash Neal (5-51) and Porteous returned to grab a couple of wickets.

The only downside on the day was that both Basingstoke’s relegation rivals Alton and Bournemouth both won.

Next up on Saturday is a home game against the Hampshire Academy.