SALISBURY Lions failed in their bid to regain the Southern League T20 Cup, as they lost by four wickets to Hook and Newnham Basics under the floodlights at the Ageas Bowl last Sunday.

Lions skipper Luke Evans won the toss and decided to bat and things did not start well for the South Wilts based side as they lost James Hayward and Joe Cranch, both without scoring as Hook's Shane Brewer 2-19 had a great spell with the ball from his four overs.

However, opener Tom Morton and Jack Stearman set about moving the scoreboard on, as they shared a third wicket stand worth 48 runs.

Stearman was then run out by Matt Love with the score on 72 and Morton excellent knock of 63 from 35 balls which included seven fours and three sixes ended 10 runs later.

He was caught on the boundary by a delivery which many of the South Wilts faithful felt should have been called a no ball as above waist height.

Ben Draper (12) was then trapped leg before by Rhodes Franklin (2-35).

It was left to Arthur Godsal, back after 12th man duties for England at the Ageas Bowl, and Robert Pittman to rebuild the innings.

The pair put on 71 for the sixth wicket, before Godsal (33) was bowled by Harry Warner and then Pittman was the next man out for 47 from 24 balls which included three sixes and three fours.

In the end the Lions finished on 187-7 from their 20 overs.

The Hook reply got off to the worst possible start as Jordan Hobday was trapped leg before first ball by Stephen Warner (3-30).

However, the Buckingham brothers Matt and Josh got them back on track with a second wicket stand worth 53, before Matt departed for seven.

This brought Matt Love to the centre and along with man of the match Josh Buckingham they shared a match winning partnership worth 80 runs.

Buckingham's brilliant innings of 84 from 40 balls, included six fours and seven sixes, was ended by a Godsal catch off the bowling from Matthew Burton.

Love (35) was then the fourth man out 11 runs later and after this the mantle was then taken up by Franklin with an unbeaten 35 and despite losing Alex Brown and Warner.

Franklin and Brewer saw Hook to victory with two balls to spare.