BASINGSTOKE skipper Lee Nurse led by example against the fearsome bowling of South African Test ace Mantie Hayward in a gripping encounter at May's Bounty on Saturday.

Nurse was the lone home batsman to succeed against the High Wycombe paceman, who has shortened his run-up and shed his "wayward Hayward" nickname.

He met his match in Nurse, whose determination, guile and shot-making took him to an impressive 81 before he was finally trapped lbw by Paul Woodroffe with the score on 126-7.

Nurse's score was the highlight of a match where the changeable English weather ensured two lengthy interruptions due to rain.

But the stop-start game was one Woodroffe and Hayward didn't let affect their bowling, as they skittled out nine Basingstoke batsmen between them.

Basingstoke limped to 144 all out in the Home Counties League division one match.

With the weather reducing the overs available to Basingstoke in the field, getting a win was unlikely, although Chris Chandler struck early to remove Robbie Jones for a duck.

But the heavens opened again and the game was finally called off at 5pm.

Afterwards, Nurse was praised highly by his team-mates for his innings.

He said: "We had a difficult task, being put in, but I would have done the same with the wicket being soft. Then you're facing a Test opening bowler straight away, so you know what sort of day it's going to be.

"He was really quick - especially to get 90mph deliveries on a soft wicket. I just had to dig in, but I think our team wickets fell because of his reputation, which was disappointing.

"Getting 140 was not satisfactory or enough against the team whose record suggests they are the best team in the league."

Nurse felt his side had the worst of the conditions, but didn't believe the rain saved a defeat.

He said: "We would have struggled to beat them, but we've got the same points as if we'd lost. The good thing is we are not losing, but we aren't winning either and that's something that needs to change next Saturday at Radlett."