BASINGSTOKE took the spoils in the North Hampshire derby and moved above Alton into seventh place in the Southern Premier League.

An unbeaten century from Ben Thane tipped the game Basingstoke’s way at the Jubilee Ground after Alton had recovered well from a disastrous start.

The first two balls of the game saw Marco Marais and Alex Hammond both back in the pavilion, Martyn James inducing two batting errors from the top-order pair.

Dan Harris thus joined Michael Heffernan without a run on the board, but the duo showed character in repairing the damage and put on 98 in a solid partnership before Harris was trapped in front for 53 by former Hampshire off-spinner Mitch Stokes.

Heffernan moved to his 50 and he and Scott Myers added a further 42 runs until, with lunch looming, Heffernan played a poor shot and was caught at midwicket for a patient 56.

Basingstoke saw their chance and Stokes and Ashley Neal grabbed a quick wicket apiece to reduce the Brewers to 142-6 at the interval.

Myers – Alton’s Captain Fantastic this season – played another superb innings, however, and with support from the Salmon brothers, took the home side past 200.

He declared in the 64th over at 240-8, having stroked his way to 91 not out off 100 balls, including nine fours and a six.

It was always going to be difficult to contain a strong Basingstoke line-up on a true surface. Thane was the key man, scoring most of the runs as the visitors moved to 98-2.

Julian Ballinger and Toby Salmon chipped away at the other batsmen and at 173-4, with Stokes run out for 31, and then 183-5, the game was still in the balance.

However, David Griffiths joined Thane and the pair guided Basingstoke towards the target with an unbroken partnership.

Thane completed a fine century and was unbeaten on 121 off 186 balls when Basingstoke completed a five-wicket victory with eight balls to spare.

Alton travel to Burridge this Saturday.

• Alton II batted consistently in their Hampshire League County One match away to OTs & Romsey II, but failed to turn 20s into big scores and it took a generous 43 extras (34 wides) to get them up to 195-9. Alex Freeman top-scored with 33.

OTs lost two wickets for 20, but half-centuries from Nico Newman (55 not out) and Stuart Shapland (72) set up a fairly comfortable four-wicket win.

• In County 4 North, Alton III managed only 93 all out against AWE?Tadley. Number 3 Martin Green made 25.

Ellis Ballinger and Ethan Streek took an early wicket apiece and Pat Sampson (2-25) bowled well, but Tadley got the runs in 22 overs.