FOR the second year running, Basingstoke and North Hants had to settle for a draw against visiting Radlett in the Home Counties League on Saturday.

Charl Willoughby, in his first game back for the May's Bounty club, took the opening wicket with 20 on the scoreboard after the visitors elected to bat.

The home side made slow progress to lunch, reaching 84-4 from 30 overs with Nick Hampton scoring 42.

Scott Dyer and Keith Harris took a wicket each and Dean Nurse struck with a run-out in the opening session.

After lunch, Haydn Smith (42) and South African Shane Burger put on 58 runs for the fifth wicket, before Smith was caught by Leon Nurse off Harris.

James Morris struck twice in his Basingstoke league debut, thanks to wicket-keeper Lee Nurse taking his second catch of the day and a catch by Chris Froud.

At 184-7, everything looked to be going Basingstoke's way until ninth man, Kervin Marc, had other ideas. Along with Burger, he put on 52 for the eighth wicket before Radlett's overseas star was out for 57, thanks to a Lee Nurse run-out.

Marc continued to give the home bowlers a hard time, finishing unbeaten on 57 as Radlett used up their full quota of 65 overs to reach 262-8.

That left the home side 55 overs to win and they started badly with Ian Maynard and James Morris early victims of Marc as they struggled to 13-2.

Dyer was the third man out for 12, the first of three wickets for Burger and Mark Richards followed for eight.

That brought together Dean Nurse and his captain and brother Lee. They put on 69 for the fifth wicket before Lee was bowled by Robert Crocket for an innings top score of 73.

Jon Govett was out for a duck. Dean Nurse and Chris Froud then moved the score to 180 before Nurse surrendered his wicket for 60.

Froud (40 not out) and Leon Nurse (unbeaten on 20) saw out the overs.

Lee Nurse said: "I think they batted for far too long. It was a stiff total and, with 10 overs less, it made it a tall order.

"It did not help that we did not get off to the best of starts, but Dean, Chris and Leon all batted well."

For the captain it was a long day in the field, keeping wicket and then opening the batting.

He said: "I know Nigel Williamson used to do it, but it was certainly hard work and I was pleased I took a couple of catches."