Bashley started the new season in the field at Gosport, who elected to bat first having won the toss. Steady opening bowling spells by both Sean Read and James Edmunds (1 for 15) restricted Gosport to 38 for 1 off the first 10 overs. Tom Saunders bowled Harrop (28) in his first over and a run out at the other end reduced Gosport to 49 for 3. After this Gosport batted cautiously in an attempt to rebuild their innings and took their score to a threatening 133 for 4 off 32 overs. Young spinner Toby Mills (2 for 46) bowled a very impressive spell and dismissed both set batsmen King (57) and Taylor (27). Nick Clark (3 for 31) and Tom Saunders (3 for 21) soon ran through the rest of the Gosport batting as they were dismissed for 162 in the 42nd over.
After tea, Bashley lost a couple of early wickets but Harry Anstey and Graham Pardey (fresh from his 2 good catches as stand in wicket keeper) steadied the ship. After a watchful first ten overs they gradually started to dominate the bowling with shots all round the wicket. They were always in control and Anstey 87 not out and Pardey 54 not out saw Bashley home to a comfortable 8 wicket victory with 10 overs to spare.
This was an encouraging start to the new season for Bashley with an impressive display in all departments but there will be tougher tests to come.
