CHRIS Chandler's best all-round performance of the season was in vain as Basingstoke and North Hants suffered a four-wicket defeat against visiting Slough at May's Bounty on Saturday.

Chandler top-scored in the home innings with an excellent 51 not out, which included two sixes and eight fours, off only 41 balls and then took three wickets.

Basingstoke, bowled out for 141, had Slough reeling at 19-4 as Charl Willoughby (3-64) and Chandler (3-43) produced a blistering opening spell.

South African pace bowler Willoughby removed opener Ali Ahmed, with his final ball of his first over, without a run being scored.

He struck again in his third over to remove his opening partner Gheyas Khan - also for a duck.

In the first ball of his next over, Willoughby again knocked over the stumps to send Perviez Aziz back to the pavilion for three.

Chandler, not to out done, had Mohammed Khan snapped up in the slips by James Morris and the Berkshire side had their first four batsman back in the pavilion for only 19 runs.

Skipper Bobby Sher and Steve Naylor, Slough's heroes in their victory at May's Bounty last season, repeated the punishment on Saturday with a match-winning partnership of 91.

By the time Sher (36) departed, trapped leg before by Chandler, Slough were on 110.

Ali Beg only had a short stay at the centre, as Chandler struck again, but Naylor steered his side home finishing unbeaten on 78.

Earlier in the contest, Basingstoke had a bad day at the office with the bat and Lee Nurse (11) was the first to depart in unfortunate circumstances as he slipped and stood on his wicket.

Fellow opener Ian Maynard (20) was next into the pavilion with the score on 45.

After that, wickets started to tumble. Only Scott Dyer (12) managed to make it into double figures from the next six batsmen to leave the home side on 96-8.

By lunch, Chandler and Keith Harris had moved that total on to 104 off the 31 overs bowled in the opening session of the match.

After the break, the experienced pair put on Basingstoke's best partnership of the game of 41. Harris, who scored just three, proved the perfect foil.

Basingstoke were all out for 141 soon after, as Willoughby was clean-bowled by Naylor, Slough's top wicket-taker with 4-33.

Disappointed Basingstoke skipper Nurse said: "They won the toss and, like I would have done, elected to bat, as the pitch was a little green.

"We batted poorly and ended up with a total which was 100 runs short of giving us a chance to win.

"Chris Chandler has batted and bowled well and Charl (Willoughby) has bowled well, but they never had enough runs to bowl at."

To rub further salt in the wounds, Basingstoke were docked a further point for a slow over-rate.

Things get no easier for the Bounty men next Saturday when they travel to face league leaders Henley.