BAT Sports and Basingstoke & North Hants are off to fliers in the NatWest Under-16 Indoor League at the Rose Bowl.

The junior Tobaccomen nailed Fair Oak and Cross Symondians to move level with the Isle of Wight at the top.

Basingstoke collected 31 points from two wins over Bournemouth and South Wilts to move into third place.

Ben Walker and Wadhar Khan guided BAT to an easy six-wicket win over Fair Oak (106-2) and then by five wickets against Cross Symondians, whose 136-3 owed much to Richard Wood (37) and Will Bayliss (33).

Basingstoke & North Hants hit 126-3 (Ben Foxley 41, Darren Rouse 25, Chris Wood 23) before skittling South Wilts for 42 (Wood 2-20).

They later dismissed Bournemouth for 65 (Niak 27, Ridley 23) before polishing off the target with Rouse 27 and Foxley 26 both undefeated.

South Wilts made 107-3 (Tom Pearce 27, Jamie Bennett 20) before losing by five wickets to Bournemouth (110-1), for whom Moulik Niak 26 and Ed Denham 25 both retired.

Poor bowling enabled St Cross to pile up a massive 184-2 before Fair Oak replied with 110 (Tom Hockenhull 37).

Tomorrow's fixtures: 6pm Ventnor v Andover, 7pm Ventnor v Fair Oak, 8pm Andover v Fair Oak.

The Hampshire cricket Board is organising a ECB Level II coaching course at the Rose Bowl on Saturdays November 6, 13, 27 and December 4 2004.

The course is ideal for candidates who are current or recent players at club level with a good Level 1 pass, currently coaching in a club or district and able to make a commitment to continue coaching for a minimum period.

The course will be essential for any overseas player planning to play Premier League cricket next season.

Further information can be obtained from Colin Savage (023 8046 5816).