BASINGSTOKE and North Hants Cricket Club suffered a 23-run loss to defending ECB Southern Premier League winners Burridge, following a four-wicket haul from seamer Inayat Ullah.

The match took place at May's Bounty, and Burridge's triumphant success was primarily due to Ullah's display of bowling prowess.

Basingstoke had high hopes of chasing down a Burridge total of 194-9, a mission that commandingly derailed when Ullah launched his attacks.

He first dismissed young opener Alex Bovill, and in the fourth over, with Basingstoke at a comfortable 25-1, he removed left-hander Matt Deadman, followed by an out for George Metzger on the next delivery.

For a brief moment, there was a respite as Ash Neal added four runs to the Basingstoke total in the fifth over.

However, with Ullah reclaiming the white ball, disaster resumed.

Ullah's hat-trick ball saw Dubs Wood's stumps rearranged and the teenage Neil Shelar received an unplayable delivery, leaving Basingstoke on 29-5.

Despite a valiant effort by Neal, who managed 47 runs, and some resistance seen while Dean Nurse posted 56 and Matt Donaldson 28, the club fell short, ending on 173 all out.

Early in the match, Burridge made a riveting start with Cape Town's Matt Goles scoring 58 and Jack Paskins adding 32, achieving a combined total of 82 off 15 overs.

Notably, Azim Chowdhury made a significant contribution, hitting Ash Neal for three big sixes as Burridge cemented their path to victory.