THERE is no stopping Southern Electric Premier League Division Two leaders Basingstoke and North Hants as Sparsholt were beaten by five wickets. It extended the visitors’ winning streak to 10 straight games and they are now in pole position for promotion with six matches remaining.

However, Sparsholt made them work for their victory.

Their leading run scorer, Adelaide-based Daniel Payne (42), and Ed Jenner (33) got them off to a good start, making it to 73 after 20 overs, but soon after, both were back in the pavilion.

Matt Thankachan had Jenner trapped leg before and a smart stumping from Lawrence Benge accounted for Payne.

At 81-2, Sparsholt had to rebuild again, George Potter (23) and Lewis Dunford (40) adding 56 for the third wicket.

A mix-up involving Steve Wright saw Dunford run out at the non striker’s end, as Chris Froud’s throw to Thankachan saw him remove the bails.

Wright (51) and Simon Herridge (26) moved the score past 200 in the final 10 overs, but the partnership was broken as Andy Fulton dismissed Wright and then Connor bowled Herridge after he had hit Coombs for two sixes.

Sparsholt posted a decent total of 239-6 from their 50 overs.

Basingstoke took up the chase and reached 48-1 from their first 10 overs with Froud (15) the man out.

Dan Coombs (48) joined Fulton and the pair put on 81 for the second wicket, before the skipper departed.

Opener Fulton completed his half century in 70 balls, hitting nine fours as the visitors kept the scoreboard ticking over.

Dean Nurse (28) hit a couple of maximums off Herridge and then was caught out on the boundary by Mark Stone. Fulton and Craig Williamson (14) took the score past 200 and then Fulton was the last man out with the visitors just six short of their target. His century came up in 110 balls and included 19 fours and he added another boundary before being caught behind for 104.

Basingstoke won with nine overs to spare.