BASINGSTOKE and North Hampshire posted their biggest ever total of 329-7 in the Home Counties League, but still had to settle for a draw against visiting Banbury at May's Bounty on Saturday.

This was mainly due to a fine 122 from Banbury's Craig Haupt as the visiting player collected his second consecutive ton on his visits to the Basingstoke headquarters.

It was Basingstoke who batted first and got off to a great start, as openers Lee Nurse and Ian Maynard put on 94 for the first wicket, before Maynard was out for 36.

This meant Dean Nurse, promoted up the order, joined older brother Lee in the centre, and the pair moved the score to 183-1 by lunch.

The partnership was broken soon after the break, as Lee Nurse surrendered his wicket for 80, an innings which included 12 fours.

James Morris joined Dean Nurse and between them they kept the scoreboard ticking over until it reached 257.

Then Nurse was bowled by Simon Launder for the top score in the Basingstoke innings of 83, which included 12 fours and one six.

Morris continued to build on the foundations with 55 runs of his own and enabled Basingstoke to declare on 329-7 after 64.5 overs.

The Banbury reply did not get off to a good start as Charl Willoughby trapped opener Andrew Sabin leg before wicket for six, and with only 39 on the board Chris Smith was caught by wicket-keeper Lee Nurse again off a Willoughby delivery.

It got no better for the visitors, as Danny Harding was trapped leg before by Chris Chandler for nine, leaving Banbury on 58-3.

However, as expected, Haupt proved to be a thorn in the side of Basingstoke and along with Steve Beck the pair rebuilt the innings with a 142-run fourth wicket partnership.

Haupt was finally caught superbly in the slips by Morris off a Willoughby ball having made 122, this after being dropped on 94 by Chandler.

His dismissal ended Banbury's hopes of victory and when Beck (48) was caught behind, the game swung towards Basingstoke with the visitors on 202-5.

Former England bowler Paul Taylor departed swiftly for seven bowled by Morris, but that was as good as it got for the home side.

After that, Richard Kaufman and Callum Taylor made sure Banbury batted out for the draw. Even with Kaufman being caught in the slips by Scott Dyer, Willoughby finished with 5-77 and it was too late to give Basingstoke a chance of victory.

Basingstoke were in action in the Evening Standard Trophy at Cheam on Sunday, see Friday's Gazette for more.