SAM Thomson's seven-wicket haul reduced Hampshire Academy's batting to rubble and propelled Bashley to the top of the Southern Premier League (SPL) table.

The county side were moving along serenely on 80 for two, in pursuit of 212 for victory, when Thomson (7-54) intervened to trigger a collapse that saw Hampshire fold to 163 all out.

Pat Page had been the bedrock of the visitors' batting, the excellent Australian smashing nine fours and two sixes in a run-a-ball 67.

Page's dismissal – trapped in front by Zac Organ (3-40) – precipitated a slump from 118 for two to 147 for seven, with Organ also claiming the prize scalp of skipper Michael Porter for 15.

Chris Ridley (27) and number 9 Simon Watkins, who struck a counter-attacking 36, joined in a 53-run stand to repair the damage, as Bashley scrambled their way to 211 all out.

That total initially looked unfit for purpose, particularly with Felix Organ stroking a fluid 92.

But Thomson came to the fore and showed exactly why Porter had admitted prior to Saturday's clash that he was thrilled to have the 26-year-old back in his ranks.

The off-spinner – rated by his captain as the team's "best bowler in recent years" – returned career best SPL figures, as Bash won by 48 runs to leapfrog Lymington at the Premier Division summit.