LAXMIKANT Sharma took seven wickets for just five runs as Old Basing III beat Ramsdell II by 96 runs in Hampshire Cricket League Regional Division Three.

Sid Sengupta made 66 as Old Basing reached 189-6, with Gary Prickett taking 3-40 for hosts Ramsdell. Dave Holbrook hit an unbeaten 68 in the Ramsdell reply, but he ran out of partners as Sharma ran through the batting order.

Second-placed Silchester claimed another victory, beating visitors Basingstoke and North Hants V by nine wickets. Lee Jones took 3-24 as Basingstoke were dismissed for 115 before Shaun Bradley made 80 in Silchester’s successful reply.

Jack Robson’s 85 helped Hook and Newnham Basics IV to 249-8 at home to Holybourne II. Sam Lovelock then took 3-28 as the visitors were dismissed for 115 to give Hook a 134-run win.

Captain Tim Soper took 5-12 as Hartley Wintney III bowled Overton II out for 108, a total that the hosts were able to surpass for a six-wicket win, Edward Walker ending unbeaten on 56.

Bottom side Herriard II claimed a rare win, beating visitors Overton III by 135 runs. Jordan Coombs hit 60 as the hosts made 244-8, while Miles Kellock took 5-28 as Overton were bowled out for 109 in reply.

Bowlers were very much on top as Basingstoke and North Hants IV met Odiham and Greywell in Division One North.

The Bountymen were bowled out for 114, with Becky Hartnett taking 4-23, while Jarred Opperman then took 3-39 as Odiham squeezed home for a three-wicket victory.

Oakley suffered their first defeat of the season, going down by 40 runs at home to title rivals Bentworth. The visitors were dismissed for 169, but Oakley were then bowled out for 129 in reply.

Chris Hanney took 4-8 and Paul Gundry 3-5 as Kingsclere bowled visiting St Cross Symondians V out for 55, going on to complete a nine-wicket win.

Ashford Hill also had a good day, beating visiting Shrewton by seven wickets. Ben Osborne and Khaqan Zafar both took 3-28 as the visitors were bowled out for 131, while Jayaprakash Devaraj’s 58 not out saw Ashford Hill over the line.

John Huntingdon made 56 as Old Basing II were bowled out for 127 against Ramsdell, but the visitors also found batting tough and were skittled out for 66 to lose by 63 runs.

Herriard chased down Over Wallop’s total of 256-8 to claim an impressive two-wicket victory.

There was a close match in Division Two North, with Rotherwick ITW claiming a one-wicket victory away at struggling St Mary’s.

Verru Pokala made 67 as the hosts reached 188-9, with Aerron Simpson taking 3-39. Ian Bentley took 4-37 and Keith Waldock 3-59 in the Rotherwick reply, but Dan Holding’s unbeaten 86 just about saw Rotherwick to victory.

Odiham and Greywell II sit second after beating OTs and Romsey IV by eight wickets, having restricted their opponents to 145-9.

Oakley II are top of Division Four North East after restricting hosts Whitchurch II to 197-7 and recording a five-wicket victory.

AWE Tadley II suffered a narrow six-run defeat at home to Longparish III. Sunit Misty took 3-22 and Keiran Monger 3-61 as the visitors were dismissed for 192, but AWE could only muster 186 in reply.

Ashford Hill II also suffered defeat, going down by 57 runs at Hungerford II. Chasing 264-4, they were only able to reach 207-7.